Eagle or Vulture or ??? Eugene, Oregon USA 2022/06/14 (1 Viewer)

[Common Raven]

Saw this bird soaring overhead a couple of times before flying away. At first I considered Bald Eagle (they're fairly common here) but the head looked too small, plus I thought I saw some rufous coloring along the back. Any help is appreciated!

 

[nartreb]

Vulture, by overall shape.

Looks like a turkey vulture, which is the only option in Oregon anyway.

Compared to an eagle, the head is smaller, the tail is longer, the front edge of the wing is slightly more S-shaped, and the splay of the "hand" (wingtips) is different.

Also, turkey vultures have a silvery sheen on their flight feathers, which doesn't show particularly well in these photos, but it's there if you know what to look for.

You can't see it in these photos, but turkey vultures hold their wings in a slight dihedral (wingtips higher than shoulders) and tend to tip or rock back and forth while gliding.

 

[Butty]

Turkey vulture (by wing-shape, if comparing to black vulture - or to any other raptor in conjunction with head shape). Given also the flight behaviour, as described above, then once you've got your eye in for them it's one of the most distinctive bird species in North America. There's no rufous on the back, so you mistook that feature (no offence).

 

[Common Raven]

Thank you both for your help, I greatly appreciate your time.

 

[Bewick]

Saw this bird soaring overhead a couple of times before flying away. At first I considered Bald Eagle (they're fairly common here) but the head looked too small, plus I thought I saw some rufous coloring along the back. Any help is appreciated! View attachment 1452081

100% a vulture… look at those barn doors.

 

[AveryBartels]

100% a vulture… look at those barn doors.

FWIW, from my experience it is Bald Eagles that tend to have wings described as "barn doors"....maybe a case of regional vernacular difference....

 

[KC Foggin]

Turkey Vulture for me too.

 

[KC Foggin]

I lightened it a bit in Photoshop and it clearly showed the white bottom edges on the wings