Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
A large bird, common around Montreal, and a scavenger feeding almost exclusively on carrion. Viewed against the sky, the bird appears black but in fact the bird is dark-brown and the bottom of the wings are light brown.
- 🇫🇷 Urubu à tête rouge
- 🇩🇪 Truthahngeier
- 🇲🇽 Urubú de cabeza roja
Characteristics
- Length: 65-70cm
- Weight: 1.5-4kg
- Wingspan: 185-200cm
How to Identify
If you are able to have a good look at the color and shape of its head, easy to identify. On distance, dark almost black, flying in circles, groups with others of the same species.
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Where and When to Spot
This species stays in the Montreal area only in summer and can be seen flying looking for cadavers over any park.
Observations by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvédère Outremont | x | x | - | - |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Angrignon | x | x | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Mont Saint-Bruno | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | x | x | - | - |
| Parc des Rapides, Lachine | x | - | - | - |
| Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park | - | x | - | - |
"-" indicates no observation. It may not necessarily mean though that the species is absent from the park during that season.