# Buzzards? Vultures? Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681 "2003-05-21T23:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/1 "2003-05-21T23:53:08Z")
I’ve been trying to find out the names of some of the birds I see everyday. There’s one type that I’ve heard was called the turkey vulture, but I’ve heard that those are completely different. I’ve done some webhunting, and I found a page of obsolete names, so apparently the names have changed at some point. Does anyone still use the term buzzards? How many different types of vultures are there? When I was living near Orlando, Florida there were large black soaring birds everywhere, which someone told me were turkey vultures. I see red-tailed hawks around here in southern New Hampshire frequently, and also birds which when soaring look the same as those birds in Florida. Are these turkey vultures? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/2 "2003-05-22T00:14:51Z")
There are two kinds of vultures that are widespread in the US. The Turkey Vulture can be found quite far north in the summer. It is dark brown, has a red head, and rarely flaps its wings when it flies. The Black Vulture is mostly southern in distribution. It is blackish, has some white in the wings, a black head, and frequently flaps its wings between bouts of soaring. The birds you saw in Vermont were certainly Turkey Vultures. Although Black Vultures occur in Florida, the birds you saw there were most likely Turkey Vultures. The name “buzzard” is often applied to vultures in the U.S., but originally it referred to a kind of hawk similar to a Red-tail. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/3 "2003-05-22T00:17:00Z")
More can be found in my staff report: [Why do vultures circle dead stuff?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mvulture.html) SD Staff George ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/4 "2003-05-22T00:27:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flying\_Monk \* > \*\*Does anyone still use the term buzzards? \*\* It’s still used by some, but because it’s not technically correct ornithologists stopped using it for vultures 40 or 50 years ago. The Turkey Vulture used to commonly be called Turkey Buzzard. LIkewise, Duck Hawk became Peregrine Falcon, Pigeon Hawk became Merlin, Sparrow Hawk became American Kestrel, and Marsh Hawk became Northern Harrier, in keeping with British usage. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/5 "2003-05-22T01:56:31Z")
Here in Trinidad we call em Cobos. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/6 "2003-05-22T10:02:32Z")
And here in the UK, a buzzard is [this](http://www.barrywales.co.uk/hawkingcentre/buzzard.htm) thing, (_Buteo buteo_) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/7 "2003-05-22T10:16:31Z")
Y’know…the book I’m reading makes a WHOLE lot more sense knowing that. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/8 "2003-05-22T10:42:02Z")
Thanks for the replies. However, that “circling over dead things” myth was debunked long ago…they’re circling in a thermal. I know, they’ve helped me find many of them. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/9 "2003-05-22T15:33:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flying\_Monk \* > \*\*Thanks for the replies. However, that “circling over dead things” myth was debunked long ago…they’re circling in a thermal. I know, they’ve helped me find many of them. \*\* Did you read my article? Yes, they do circle over dead stuff - I’ve often seen them do it. (You must never have visted a tropical garbage dump or fish market.) However, it is true that _most_ of the time when you see them circling they are in thermals, either loafing or keeping an eye out for carcasses - or for other vultures that have found a meal. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/10 "2003-05-22T16:11:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flying\_Monk \* > \*\*I’ve been trying to find out the names of some of the birds I see everyday. There’s one type that I’ve heard was called the turkey vulture, but I’ve heard that those are completely different… > > Does anyone still use the term buzzards? … I see red-tailed hawks around here in southern New Hampshire frequently, and also birds which when soaring look the same as those birds in Florida. Are these turkey vultures? \*\* I have heard people call them “turkey buzzards.” It’s no big deal - common names for plants and animals tend to vary from place to place and also over time. Turkey vultures and red-tail hawks look similar when seen from a distance, but they’re not the same. Vultures have no feathers around their heads - they stick their heads into decaying carcasses, and the lack of feathers helps prevent a build-up of disgusting guck. The difference is obvious when you see the birds close-up. You usually don’t see either of these birds close-up - you usually see them soaring. The easiest way to distinguish them in the air is to look at the wing tips. The feathers at the ends of the wings of a turkey vulture are spread apart like the fingers of a hand, while the wing-end feathers of a red-tail hawk come to a point. Also, turkey vultures tend to “wobble” in the air when soaring, while red-tail hawks are steadier. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/11 "2003-05-22T19:54:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Lichtman \* > \*\*You usually don’t see either of these birds close-up - you usually see them soaring. \*\* I agree as far as T Vultures go, but here in the midwest, it seems you see red-tails on fence posts and telephone poles every other mile. The things are everywhere loitering around! ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/12 "2003-05-23T01:29:53Z")
Wow…I saw a turkey vulture pretty close-up today. I was driving down the road, and I saw a bird with 5-6’ wingspan flying down the road towards me, then it veered up & appeared to land in a tree. I slowed down & looked into the trees and I saw it. I’m not sure exactly how big it was, but it was big. I was hoping it would take off so I could see its wings (& its launch) closely, but it just sat perched there & stared back at me until a car came up from behind me & I had to leave. It was a pretty cool experience. Its head was not red; it was the same dark color as the rest of him. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/13 "2003-05-23T01:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Its head was not red; it was the same dark color as the rest of him. That was a black vulture. > [@](#): > > You usually don’t see either of these birds close-up - you usually see them soaring. I’ve seen many vultures on the ground eating their dinner. Sometimes in the highway medians. As pointed out prior, you often seen hawks close up and even more often perched on a tree looking for victims. > [@](#): > > The easiest way to distinguish them in the air is to look at the wing tips. You can tell the difference between a turkey vulture and a hawk more easily. In the first place, their body shapes are not the same. Second, the tv has a dihedral wing shape. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/14 "2003-05-23T10:24:00Z")
I have absolutely no problem telling hawks & vultures apart; I’d like to say the same for black vultures & turkey vultures though. According to one website I saw, turkey vultures don’t get red heads until they’re older. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/15 "2003-05-23T14:58:22Z")
You are correct, Flying\_Monk. My error. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/16 "2003-05-23T15:13:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flying\_Monk \* > \*\*I have absolutely no problem telling hawks & vultures apart; I’d like to say the same for black vultures & turkey vultures though. According to one website I saw, turkey vultures don’t get red heads until they’re older. \*\* It’s true that immature Turkey Vulture’s have dark heads. However, the two species are not hard to tell apart in flight even so. The Black Vulture has an easily-visible white patch at the base of the primary feathers in the wing (absent in the TV), and frequently flaps its wings between bouts of sailing. Turkey Vultures rarely flap their wings once they have taken off, soaring almost continuously with a characteristic side-to-side rocking motion. The two species can be told apart over vast distances because of this difference in flight style. Perched, they’re a little harder, but a Black Vulture is shorter-tailed and more compact. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buzzards-vultures-huh/176681/17 "2003-05-23T18:04:44Z")
Of course there’s such a thing as a buzzard! [See?](http://www.wmms.com/main.html)