Photos of the Day: January 19, 2016

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Fantastic black vulture series photographed by Alan Johnson and posted in The Linville Gorge Facebook Group.

 

Black Vulture (Photo: Alan Johnson)
Black vultures can be distinguished from below by the white feathers at the ends of the wings. For this reason, black vultures are called “white tips” by local farmers whose young livestock are sometimes threatened by these aggressive scavengers.

 

Black Vulture (Photo: Alan Johnson)
Vultures — black and turkey — can be distinguished from hawks, ospreys, and eagles by the upturned tips of their wings.

 

Black Vulture (Photo: Alan Johnson)

 

Black Vulture (Photo: Alan Johnson)
Here you can see the namesake black head. Turkey vultures have red heads.