New World Turkey Vulture Spreading Its Wings
This is the notorious New World Turkey Vulture or Cathartidae, resting in its cage.
The vulture is proudly displaying its wingspan.
Some vultures can have a wingspan of up to nine feet.
This is the most common modern species of vulture in North America, and they also live in South America.
They exist from Canada down to Argentina and Chile.
There are several reasons they will open their wings like this.
In practical terms of fight or flight, it prepares them to fly away in a second.
It also makes them appear larger and they do it as a defensive posture or warning of strength.
It's also very comfortable for them and can help warm them up.
They can even dry their feathers out quicker, after a rain storm by doing this.
So it's a go to move for them.
New World Turkey Vultures like this one are very adapted at scavenging and surviving in general.
That's why they are so plentiful. They live in rural lands and in urban environments.
This includes forests, grasslands, and even deserts. They primarily eat carrion, which is passed mammals,
but they'll eat almost any type of meat, including fresh or rotting.
