These vultures are BIG, with wing spans commonly five feet. The underside of their feathers is marked by the contrast between their silvery-gray flight feathers and the dark brown linings around the shoulders.
Adults have red heads and a white bill, while juveniles have gray-brown coloring.
They are often seen in open wooded areas or fields, looking to scavange a meal. Unlike other large birds, vultures do not build nests, but rather lay their eggs under natural sheltered areas, rock crevices or in hollowed logs. Adapted from National Geographic Society's Field Guide to Birds of North America , 2nd edition, 1987.