Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Odd Turkey Vulture Behavior

From:

Kurt Schwarz

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 6 Feb 2005 16:21:49 -0500

Yesterday, February 5, while in the midst of the HowCo Bird Clubs mid-winter
count, my colleagues and I observed a display from a pair of Turkey Vultures,
that we had never seen before.  We were on a farm in northern Howard County
at the time.

The birds landed on a roubust, horizontal branch, and somewhat extended
their wings.  They the faced one another, and appeared to clasp each
other's bill.  They then bobbed their heads up and down, with bills still
inter-locked for several seconds.  They split up, and one flew off.

Does anybody have any idea just what this behavior means?  I've checked my
3 volumes of the Stokes' guide to behavior, no entry for Turkey Vulture.
Sibley guide to behavior was not help, nor Kaufman's Lives of North American
Birds.

Kurt Schwarz
HowCo
goawaybird 'at' comcast dot net