Comments on: Turkey vultures take sun baths to clean their wings

By: Gary Bogue

Gary Bogue — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:33:57 +0000

Mary: Sounds like it just got separated from the flock. I doubt it’s an outcast. Vultures spread their wings in the sunlight to allow solar radiation to help kill any bacteria they might have picked up while feeding on long-dead things. When the sun comes up in the morning, you often see all the vultures in the flock standing there with their wings spread. /Gary

By: Mary Morris

Mary Morris — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:39:14 +0000

I live in Oakley, and curiously, in the last couple of weeks, we have had a lone turkey vulture perch in a dead almond tree behind our back fence, which borders on 1 acre parcels. Yes, it sits in the tree with it’s wings spread, facing east. Thanks for filling me in on that behaviour.
Just wondering though, aren’t turkey vultures a social species? Could this one be an outcast?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:33:28 +0000

I saw this this morning here in CT, two black vultures were high up in a tree with wings spread….really spooked me out!

By: ws

ws — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:43:31 +0000

Academic sources all say it’s thermoregulation and drying.

By: Maggie Rufo

Maggie Rufo — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:05:49 +0000

Don’t you think they are also thermoregulating? I believe that is part of it. When it’s cold they may even torp. They cannot really get going in the morning until they warm up via their solar panel wings!