Turkey Vultures are found throughout North, Central, and South America. They lack a syrinx so make almost no sound (contrary to some "cowboy" films that have dubbed hawk calls over the Vultures flight to make them scarier). Unaffectionately called "Buzzards" by some, even the word "vulture" is used negatively in everyday language. Yet in real life, they serve a most useful role. They don't kill anything, They eat already dead animals whose decay would have the potential of spreading disease. Fortunately, they are protected by the 1918 Migratory Act here in the US.
Turkey Vultures are quite graceful in their flight. They use "thermals" to move through the air, which makes flapping their wings unnecessary most of the time. So, they have the appearance of "gliding."
Turkey vultures are carrion eating birds, finding their meals through keen vision and sense of smell (of decaying animals). If a very large animal has dead -- a cow, for example -- sooner or later you might find 50 or 100 Vultures eating or circling above. Here you can see one feeding on a dead coyote.
They have a long wingspan, though not as long as the Condor or Eagles. In comparison to the most common of hawks, the Red Tail Hawk, it length is about seven inches longer, and wingspan about 18 inches longer. They will often perch and spread out their wings to dry the wings and warm the body:
They are often found in large groups, not just when eating but when roosting. This is especially true in early morning before they set out to look for food. Here is a tree that had 25 or so:
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