yesterday my 4 yr old daughter and i were walking thru the woods looking at deer tracks and for whatever treasures we could find. she suddenly told me to look at the turkey, and i saw what at first appeared to be a turkey, but it wasnt. we were able to get about 20 ft from it, and it was the strangest looking bird i ever saw! it was the size of a turkey, but it had "bird of prey" features on it. it had the talons, the hooked beak, and a tail like a buzzard maybe. it was probaly around 25lbs, and it had a crown on its head like a cockatail. it was a dark and golden colored bird, and looked quite menacing. it was undoubtably eating something or scratching or something. it stayed for about 2 mins., then flew off like a buzzard. it gained altitude quick, and was soon out of our site due to the timber line. anyone know what this thing was? i have seen lots of birds here in sc, but nothing like this.
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Did it look like this? http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/
How far down were the birds legs feathered,How long were the legs. It sounds a little like a secretary bird, but they are from Africa. Your best bet would be to get an audobon bird book and go through it, if its a bird it will be in it. However there are several audobon books, which vary by region, so be sure and get the right one. The local library will usually have a complete set. PLEASE let me know what you come up with.Britt
How far down were the birds legs feathered,How long were the legs. It sounds a little like a secretary bird, but they are from Africa. Your best bet would be to get an audobon bird book and go through it, if its a bird it will be in it. However there are several audobon books, which vary by region, so be sure and get the right one. The local library will usually have a complete set. PLEASE let me know what you come up with.Britt
Either a juvenile bald eagle or a golden. This posture you describe is not uncommon when these birds feel vulnerable and threatened. They flare their feathers and the nape feathers actually stick up to form almost a hood.
but it wasnt a turkey vulture. the head was feathered like a eagles, but i have never seen a eagle here. if it was a eagle, it would have to be a golden one, but i have never seen the little "elvis" curl on a eagles head. the legs were almost like a tureys, but they had claws like a hawk and they had a featherless "shin" to them. it was a very extroidinary thing to see. i regret it didnt make any noises, i would have loved to hear it. i have been checking all morning for types of birds, and i have yet to find anyt hat resemble it. another note, i found several owl feathers on top of a broken tree that looked like something had consumed it there. i wonder if this bird eat the owl? the area is heavily populated with deer, squirrels, coons, opossums, and a few turkeys, and one coyote that i have seen, but i have never seen this type bird before. they are currently clearing the land for development, so i expect to see more animals on the move. next time i will have my camera ready for it!
Turket Vulture/buzzard
I have seen a hawk like full feathered bird in south Texas. I was told it was a Carasow(SP) but I cannot locate the correct photo.
http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/english/naturaleza/fauna/detalle.cfm?idsec=11&idsub=42&idpag=421
Black headed vulture/buzzard
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/birding/migrant/section7iv/pg2.htm
http://www.photovault.com/Link/Animals/Birds/Falconformes/ABFVolume01.html
http://www.avesphoto.com/website/NA/species/CRCCRS-1.htm
http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/falcons/crstcara.html
Not only in real estate, but in bird identification.......It's KIND of important. The description sounded to me like a caracara, but if you're in Maine.....
i am located in the upstate of south carolina. i know we have alot of cranes and other large birds here, but this is a new one on me. a guy here at work said it was a osprey, but i dont know. i aint ever seen one here.
or birds of prey, or vulture, so on and so forth----only YOU can ID the bird.
http://www.usaref.org/eagles.htm
They get even more exagerated when threatened.
Put osprey in the Corbis site---lots of pics.
http://pro.corbis.com/search/searchFrame.asp