-Photo by Kathy Munsel, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife-

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

The Turkey Vulture, known locally as "buzzard," is a common sight spring through fall throughout the state, except in the highest mountains and featureless desert expanses in summer where they are uncommon. Debate raged for 140 years whether this species could locate its usual foul meals by smell or whether it depended on visual cues. While it is now clear that Turkey Vultures have a sense of smell, the question of its power is still being debated.

Turkey Vultures are large-winged soaring birds with overall dark plumage except for a silvery sheen on the undersides of the flight feathers. Adults have small, featherless, red heads, while juveniles have gray heads.

The Turkey Vulture is a common to abundant transient throughout the state and an uncommon to common summer resident except in high mountains. It is most common at lower elevations and in large valleys.