Turkey Vulture – SoaringCathartes aura February – Texas L=26”...... WS=67”....... WT=4 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Vultures have naked heads and necks which allows them to insert their heads into dead animals without fouling feathers. While they prefer fresh dead they will eat animals in differing degrees of putrefaction. Since the availability of carrion is uncertain, vultures have adapted the ability to eat large quantities of food and then go several days before eating again. Turkey Vultures hunt by sight and smell, a trait most unusual for birds. This ability to smell allows Turkey Vultures to hunt in woodland settings where purely visual hunting would be impossible.
Black Vulture – SoaringCoragyps atratus April – Texas L=25”...... WS=59”....... WT=4.4 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) Black Vultures cannot find food by smell and so are not as adept at finding dead animals as the Turkey Vulture. Where their habitats overlap, which is a very broad area in the southern half of the U.S., Black Vultures will follow Turkey Vultures to find food. Then, even though they are slightly smaller, the Black Vultures will dominate the Turkey Vultures and take the food. Turkey Vultures compensate for this by hunting for small animals that can be eaten quickly. Black Vultures have a higher wing loading (total body weight to wing area) and thus require stronger thermals to soar and have to flap their wings more frequently, a very energy intensive action. Consequently, Black Vultures have to wait later in the day to start hunting and they cannot live as far north as Turkey Vultures who live over the entire continental U.S. and into Canada.
Pygmy Nuthatch – At a feederSitta pygmaea September – Colorado L=4.25” ...... WS=7.75” ...... WT=0.4 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Sittadae (Nuthatches) Nuthatches acquired their name due to their habit of placing a nut or other hard food item in a bark crevice and hammering it until it opens thus “hatching the nut”. Hatch is thought to be a corruption of the old English term hack. Pygmy Nuthatches roost in tree cavities which are picked for insulation and ventilation according to the season. Additionally, they are capable of controlled hypothermia and will have communal roosting to retain heat during cold periods.
