Turkey Vulture

Cathartes Aura, meaning "purifying vulture" because the turkey Vulture in a sense purifies land by eating dead/decomposing animals. It's highly developed sense of smell is one unique feature that not many birds have. The Turkey Vulture is known for eating mostly carrion, decaying flesh of dead animals, and they're highly developed sense of smell explains why they most of the time are first seen eating roadkill, or a dying/dead animal. Turkey Vultures can smell decaying flesh from miles away, since dead things always have a powerful, distinctive odor. It takes the Turkey Vulture a good amount of energy to take-off in flight, but once in the air, the birds are majestic! They are able to soar and glide in the air for approximately a reported six hours without the need of flapping it's wings. Its wingspan reaches a whooping six feet, larger than some students in class, and a relative small body when compared to its wing size; positive wing loading. They can be found in mostly open areas, such as farmland, and forests. The Turkey Vulture is the most abundant vulture found in the Americas, and are of lest concern.