I saw this big Turkey Vulture, or Buzzard, flying over the lake this morning looking for the carcass of some poor animal. Finding nothing, he landed in the top of a tall tree across the lake and perched there with wings outspread. This is a common behavior for these birds and may be to warm up, cool off, or dry the wings. Turkey Vultures are easily distinguished from other Vultures by their featherless red head. Also, notice the five feather "fingers" on the wing tips. Even though the dietary habits of Vultures are pretty disgusting, they serve a valuable purpose in nature and are often more efficient than county road crews in removing dead animals from the roads.
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