What is "cathartes aura"

Turkey \Tur"key\, n.; pl. Turkeys. [So called because it was formerly erroneously believed that it came originally from Turkey: cf. F. Turquie Turkey. See Turk.] (Zo["o]l.) Any large American gallinaceous bird belonging to the genus Meleagris, especially the North American wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo), and the domestic turkey, which was probably derived from the Mexican wild turkey, but had been domesticated by the Indians long before the discovery of America.

Note: The Mexican wild turkey is now considered a variety of the northern species (var. Mexicana). Its tall feathers and coverts are tipped with white instead of brownish chestnut, and its flesh is white. The Central American, or ocellated, turkey ( Meleagris ocellata) is more elegantly colored than the common species. See under Ocellated. The Australian, or native, turkey is a bustard ( Choriotis australis). See under Native.

Turkey beard (Bot.), a name of certain American perennial liliaceous herbs of the genus Xerophyllum. They have a dense tuft of hard, narrowly linear radical leaves, and a long raceme of small whitish flowers. Also called turkey's beard.

Turkey berry (Bot.), a West Indian name for the fruit of certain kinds of nightshade ( Solanum mammosum, and Solanum torvum).

Turkey bird (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck. So called because it erects and ruffles the feathers of its neck when disturbed. [Prov. Eng.]

Turkey buzzard (Zo["o]l.), a black or nearly black buzzard ( Cathartes aura), abundant in the Southern United States. It is so called because its naked and warty head and neck resemble those of a turkey. Its is noted for its high and graceful flight. Called also turkey vulture.

Turkey cock (Zo["o]l.), a male turkey.

Turkey hen (Zo["o]l.), a female turkey.

Turkey pout (Zo["o]l.), a young turkey. [R.]

Turkey vulture (Zo["o]l.), the turkey buzzard.

Buzzard \Buz"zard\ (b[u^]z"z[~e]rd), n.[O.E. busard, bosard, F. busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus Buteo and related genera.

2. (Zo["o]l.) In the United States, a term used for the turkey vulture ( Cathartes aura), and sometimes indiscriminately to any vulture.

   Note: The Buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common are Buteo borealis, Buteo Pennsylvanicus, and Buteo lineatus) are usually called hen hawks. -- The rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe ( Pernis apivorus) feeds on bees and their larv[ae], with other insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is Circus [ae]ruginosus. See Turkey buzzard, and Carrion buzzard.

   Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. See Fishhawk.

   2. A blockhead; a dunce.

   It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard.
   --Goldsmith.