turkey buzzard
lowinformal, technical (biology/ornithology)
Definition
Meaning
A common New World vulture (Cathartes aura) with a red, featherless head, dark plumage, and a wingspan of up to 6 feet, found from southern Canada to South America.
Often used informally to refer to a person who preys on the misfortune of others, or who is seen as a scavenger. In broader North American contexts, it can sometimes be confused with the domesticated turkey or the unrelated Old World buzzard (a hawk).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The name is a compound of 'turkey' (from its bare red head resembling that of a male turkey) and 'buzzard' (a term for hawks in Europe, misapplied to this vulture by early colonists). The more precise scientific term is 'turkey vulture.' The term often carries negative or grim connotations due to the bird's scavenging habits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'buzzard' refers to birds of the genus Buteo (e.g., the common buzzard, a raptor). 'Turkey buzzard' is not a native UK term and would only be used in reference to the American species. In American English, 'turkey buzzard' is a common, though informal, name for the turkey vulture.
Connotations
In the UK, the term might cause confusion or be seen as an Americanism. In the US, it is a recognized, somewhat colloquial term with neutral-to-negative associations (scavenging, death).
Frequency
Much more common in American English. In British English, the term is rarely used outside of wildlife documentaries or specific contexts discussing American fauna.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [turkey buzzard] [soared/circled/scavenged].We saw a [turkey buzzard] [preparing to land/feeding on the carcass].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As patient as a turkey buzzard (waiting for something to die/end).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'Those competitors are like turkey buzzards, waiting for us to fail.'
Academic
Used in biology, ecology, and ornithology papers, though 'turkey vulture' is preferred.
Everyday
Used in rural or semi-rural US contexts when describing the bird. 'Look at that turkey buzzard circling the field.'
Technical
In wildlife management, zoology: 'The turkey buzzard plays a crucial role in the ecosystem as a decomposer.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb in BrE.
American English
- N/A - not standardly used as a verb in AmE.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - not used as an adjective in BrE.
American English
- He had a kind of turkey-buzzard patience about him. (figurative, rare)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A big bird is in the sky. It is a turkey buzzard.
- We saw a turkey buzzard eating a dead animal by the road.
- Turkey buzzards use their keen sense of smell to locate carrion, unlike most birds.
- The thermal currents allowed the turkey buzzard to soar effortlessly for hours, its fingered wingtips splayed against the blue sky.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of its red head like a male turkey's wattle, and it 'buzzes' around carcasses. Turkey (bird) + Buzzard (misnamed scavenger) = Turkey Buzzard.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TURKEY BUZZARD IS A SCAVENGER (used for people or companies that exploit the weak or failing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'индюк' (domestic turkey).
- The 'buzzard' part is not 'канюк' (the correct Russian for the Buteo hawk). A closer equivalent is 'американский гриф-индейка' or simply 'стервятник' (vulture).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with the black vulture (Coragyps atratus).
- Using 'turkey buzzard' in formal scientific writing instead of 'turkey vulture.'
- Assuming it is a type of hawk or a predator.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of a 'turkey buzzard'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'turkey buzzard' is a common name for the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). 'Turkey vulture' is the more precise and preferred term, especially in formal contexts.
No. They are scavengers, not predators. They pose no direct threat to healthy humans or livestock. Their main ecological role is cleaning up dead animals.
Early European settlers in North America mistakenly called the large, soaring birds they saw 'buzzards,' after the similar-looking hawks of Europe. The name stuck colloquially, despite the bird being a vulture.
Turkey buzzards (vultures) have red heads, silvery flight feathers on the underside of their wings, and rely more on smell. Black vultures have black heads, white wingtips, and are more aggressive, often following turkey vultures to food sources.