What is this?

[BRICKBURN]

I attended DSC and during a break I went for a drive (South of Dallas) and encountered this bird.

Anyone please tell me what this is?

 

[Graham Hunter]

Buzzard/Vulture

 

[BRICKBURN]

That gets me in the Ball Park.
Anything slightly more specific?

 

[cpr0312]

Looks like to typical what we call turkey vulture or some form of buzzard. Basically another slang term in the states is part of the road crew, as in roadkill cleanup. I cant help you out with specifics but I'm sure someone here will know the actual name of this species.

 

[TTundra]

I'm thinking Black Vulture. Turkey Buzzards have more red in the face.

 

[BRICKBURN]

@cpr0312 Which would be why I got to see it up close in the first place.

I am pretty sure this is an Armadillo.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I'm thinking Black Vulture. Turkey Buzzards have more red in the face.

The one I did not get a picture of seemed to have a red head and neck.

(I missed the big camera)

 

[Boela]

I would place my $ on Black Vulture

See the square tail, beak and facial features - looks the same as the ones that I Googled. If it flew up, the first 6 "finger feathers" should have been a light / cream colour.

Keenly awaiting more replies.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Colorado Turkey buzzard. Always red head the ones I've seen
Google photo

 

[TTundra]

Both reside in TX, probably had some from each species. Black on the left, Turkey on the right

 

[WebleyGreene455]

I'd say it's a turkey buzzard, but then again here in Georgia most people I know tend to call vultures "turkey buzzards" whether they really are or not. If it's a big black vulture, it's a "turkey buzzard"!

 

[WebleyGreene455]

@cpr0312 Which would be why I got to see it up close in the first place.

I am pretty sure this is an Armadillo.
View attachment 324363

And yes, that is most assuredly an armadillo. Kinda cute in their way, but a distinct pest of a species to many.

 

[Ray B]

Looks to me like the mayor, but how did he get out of New York?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@BRICKBURN,

Yes what you thought was an Armadillo is just that. All I can tell you about the buzzard is they don't do well when they collide with a Toyota Tundra traveling at approximately 65mph.

 

[Graham Hunter]

The one in your picture is a Black Vulture (Coragyps-Atratus) The one with the Red Head is a Red Headed Turkey Vulture (Sarcogyps-Calvus) very commom in TX. The Red Headed can also be found in Southern Alberta as well as Saskatchewan. And yes that is an Armadillo. Commonly found in TX on side roads laying on their back with a long neck beer bottle in their front paws.

 

[jeanes]

And yes that is an Armadillo. Commonly found in TX on side roads laying on their back with a long neck beer bottle in their front paws.

Many years ago there was a giant one hijacking Lone Star beer trucks, leading to the mass hoarding of said beer.

 

[Tra3]

That armadillo looks desarmado.

I have found that hunting has given me a greater respect for birdwatching. They go hand in hand.

 

[CAustin]

Both reside in TX, probably had some from each species. Black on the left, Turkey on the right
View attachment 324366

+

 

[James Sexton]

Yes that is a black vulture.

 

[Red Leg]

Definitely a black. They usually hang around in larger groups than the turkey vulture (with the red head and a third larger). Armadillos are the devil’s spawn if you live down here - excavating yards, gardens and ornamental beds. They also are a leprosy vector, which is why the only pre-antibiotic leper colony in North America was in coastal Louisiana. Try not to play with them when found on the side of the road.