Several years ago, I received some advice that I continue to follow to this day. I was told that if a vulture is circling overhead, as this one was doing earlier this week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, make sure you move from time to time.
When I first spotted this vulture, I was a little confused. It looked like a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), but the bird lacked the distinctive red head that I am used to seeing on a Turkey Vulture. After doing a little research I learned that juvenile Turkey Vultures have an ashy-gray head that transitions to red as they mature.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great image, Mike and great advice. When I posted pictures of the pair that Maddie and I stumbled upon, someone advised me to “try and not look dead.”
🙂
They are so big! Cool pic!
How interesting, I didn’t know that about the juveniles. I saw several adult turkey vultures at the lake this summer. I had never noticed them before in Northern Idaho. Their red heads really stand out! 😃
The bright red heads, I suspect, is the reason why someone decided they should be called “turkey” vultures.