California Condor, NPS archive
Some will agree that bald is beautiful. For vultures it makes sense as they eat carrion, dead stuff.
Turkey Vulture
Here at Grand Canyon National Park Turkey Vultures are seen soaring on the canyon thermals all the time. Yet because we also have California Condors (old world vultures) here visitors often think, or wish, that’s what they see.
California Condor, NPS archive
Although both birds are bald the condor has a black ruff of feathers around the neck, sort of like a black feather boa. Condors have a 9.5 foot wingspan while vultures measure 6.5 feet. They are noticeably different in flight when seen from below. The colors are different on the underside leading edge of the wings, which I call the armpit; condors show white and vultures show black with light silvery feathers behind. Also, vulture’s wings are held in a V-shape as they rock back and forth to steer and condor’s wings are straight out with the only motion being the tips of the primary feathers.
Some will agree that bald is beautiful. For vultures it makes sense as they eat carrion, dead stuff.
Turkey Vulture
Here at Grand Canyon National Park Turkey Vultures are seen soaring on the canyon thermals all the time. Yet because we also have California Condors (old world vultures) here visitors often think, or wish, that’s what they see.
California Condor, NPS archive
Although both birds are bald the condor has a black ruff of feathers around the neck, sort of like a black feather boa. Condors have a 9.5 foot wingspan while vultures measure 6.5 feet. They are noticeably different in flight when seen from below. The colors are different on the underside leading edge of the wings, which I call the armpit; condors show white and vultures show black with light silvery feathers behind. Also, vulture’s wings are held in a V-shape as they rock back and forth to steer and condor’s wings are straight out with the only motion being the tips of the primary feathers.
Both birds have a special place in the web of the natural world. Check out Silver Fox at Looking for Detachment where I found out about International Vulture Awareness Day. Or click the logo for even more.
