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From: gp@picuxa.UUCP (Greg Pasquariello X1190)
Newsgroups: rec.birds,sci.bio
Subject: Re: buzzards vs. vultures
Message-ID: <211@picuxa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Jun-87 08:54:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: picuxa.211
Posted: Fri Jun 26 08:54:14 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 27-Jun-87 11:48:02 EDT
References: <773@gryphon.CTS.COM> <942@hoqax.UUCP> <399@homxb.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Parsippany NJ
Lines: 40
Keywords: is there a difference
Summary: secondaries ???
Xref: mnetor rec.birds:179 sci.bio:483

In article <399@homxb.UUCP>, corey@homxb.UUCP (C.GEIGER) writes:
> In article <942@hoqax.UUCP>, qaseb@hoqax.UUCP (BADIAN) writes:
> > 
> > The two species are the turkey vulture and the black vulture.
> >Since I don't live down South where most of the black vultures live
> > I don't know if they are called buzzards too. Identification is easy. Turkey
> > vultures have red heads while black vultures have black heads. Both species are
> > common within their ranges.
> 
> Sharon is right on the mark, but I can't see red heads or black heads at
> 500+ feet.  I lived and birdwatched in the South, and a less subtle
> difference is readily apparent in any soaring vulture.  Looking from below,
> the primaries and
> secondaries of turkey vultures are a light tan colour, whereas the black
> vulture's dusting of light tan confines itself to the wingtips.  Turkey
> vultures are MUCH more common down South, but the ranges are basically the
> same for both birds.  I don't know if the turkey vulture is just more
> gregarious or if it is more plentiful.  I would hazard to say both.
> 
> Corey Geiger
> homxb!corey

	Ok, but what if you can't see the secondaries due to distance,
	light, etc.  The absolute *easiest* most reliable way to tell
	the birds apart, is shape and "jizz".  Generally, the turkey 
	vulture soars on long outstreched wings, held in a slight 
	dihedral.  The black vulture flaps much more than the turkey vulture
	and has shorter wings and tail.  Because of the long wings and tail
	of the turkey vulture, it is a more bouyant bird than the black.
	With minimal practice, it is easy to identify either bird at
	quite some distance.

	As far as range is concerned, the black vulture is now spreading north
	and overlapping the range of the turkey vulture more each year.
	Currently, they are (in the east anyway), fairly common in southern
	NJ, can be found every year in northern NJ, and are known to nest
	in Orange County (southern) NY.


	Greg Pasquariello