Birds · La Saladita, Guerrero

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Spanish: Zopilote aura

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Photographed by titomich on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), also known in some North American regions as the turkey buzzard (or just buzzard), and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John crow or carrion crow, is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open...

TaxonomyAves › Cathartiformes › Cathartidae
Local records72 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records272,902 on iNaturalist
Most recent records2025 – 2026
Months of the 8 most recent records
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Birds guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/cathartes-aura/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.