*Oology is a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behaviour. The word is derived from the Greek oion, meaning egg.
44. Turkey Vulture
This part of the Stanislaus Audubon Website is focused on 44 common Central Valley nesting species with background about their nesting habits. Please check the Great Valley Museum Central Valley Egg Collection starting page for links to all the featured species.
TURKEY VULTURE NESTING INFORMATION (From birdsoftheworld.org)
Nests - In North America, Turkey Vultures breed from March to June, with eggs laid in protected locations like caves, crevices, cliffs, hollow trees, or thickets.
Eggs - Subelliptical; sometimes long oval. The eggs are whitish or cream colored with brown or lavender spots around the larger end. They typically lay 1–3 eggs, with 2 being the most common number.
Incubation - Both parents incubate the eggs for 30–40 days.
Fledging - Body covered with long, fluffy down and head covered with short, dense down from hatching to 10 days. At hatching, unable to stand or hold head up, but can hiss weakly. Adults may feed brood by regurgitating small amounts of well-digested food. Fledging is gradual process. At exposed, elevated (e.g., cliff) nests, first flight may be extended and may occur as early as 60 d after hatching. Especially at wooded or less elevated sites, young may make short flights into canopy or onto nearby rocks beginning several days before making extended flight above canopy, usually at 70–80 days.
<< Great Blue Heron PREVIOUS | NEXT Anna's Hummingbird >>