Black Vulture Snapshot by TomDart
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Again, in the snapshop gallery, meaning not an ideal photo for other galleries but perhaps of interest.
This image was shot in a snap, lens 130mm and much too short to get this distant Black Vulture. The image shown is perhaps 1/3 of the actual frame.
Why this Photo? To show the easily seen differences in the less common Black Vulture and the more often seen Turkey Vulture. These are considered with the birds of prey but are scavengers and do not have the qualification to be a raptor, lacking gripping talons as with hawks and owls.
Note the wide short tail and feet about that length. Turkey Vulture has a much longer, more narrow tail. See the whitish face? Turkey has more reddish face. A good look at the face is generally not available with the birds high overhead. I do not want to wake up somewhere and see one looking down at me. :)
The whitish area at the wing tips just in from those "finger" feathers is pretty distinctive. Turkey has a grayish look on the bottom of wing from tip to body..difficult to see since all often appears black. The light must be right to see the whiter ends of the Black Vulture wings but it does show here on one wing fairly well here while not on the other. From a distance, the tail is perhaps the easiest differenct to spot, moreso when both types are in flight together.

Comments (3)
Great shot!!!
excellent image!
Snapped one of these yesterday as he sailed over me at altitude. Didn't do 1/3 this good...shaky, not in focus...happened to have a 300mm telephoto on and had trouble acquiring him in flight to begin with. Practice, practice...:)