turkey vulture

noun

: an American vulture (Cathartes aura) with a red head and whitish bill

called also turkey buzzard

Examples of turkey vulture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And across the Americas, turkey vultures save nearly $1 billion in removal costs by eating approximately 1.5 million tons of waste each year. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025 There were hawks and turkey vultures, their wing tips like fingers, and bald eagles, turning in wide circles with barely a beat of their wings. Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025 If its underside wings are grayish across its lower body, that’s probably a turkey vulture. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025 Their wings differ as well, with turkey vultures' longer, narrower wings black and gray and black vultures having black wings with silver tips. Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for turkey vulture

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turkey vulture was in 1823

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Cite this Entry

“Turkey vulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turkey%20vulture. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

turkey vulture

noun
: an American vulture with a red head and whitish bill

called also turkey buzzard

More from Merriam-Webster on turkey vulture

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