cathartes aura

3 definitions found

cathartes aura - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Turkey \Tur"key\ (t[^u]r"k[=e]), n.; pl. Turkeys. [So called
     because it was formerly erroneously believed that it came
     originally from Turkey: cf. F. Turquie Turkey. See Turk.]
     (Zool.)
     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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The Mexican wild turkey is now considered a variety of
           the northern species (var. Mexicana). Its tail 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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     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 (Zool.), the wryneck. So called because it
        erects and ruffles the feathers of its neck when
        disturbed. [Prov. Eng.]
  
     Turkey buzzard (Zool.), 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. It is noted for its
        high and graceful flight. Called also turkey vulture.
  
     Turkey cock (Zool.), a male turkey.
  
     Turkey hen (Zool.), a female turkey.
  
     Turkey pout (Zool.), a young turkey. [R.]
  
     Turkey vulture (Zool.), the turkey buzzard.
        [1913 Webster]

  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.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Zool.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
        the genus Buteo and related genera.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) In the United States, a term used for the turkey  vulture
         (Cathartes aura), and sometimes
        indiscriminately to any vulture.
        [PJC]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. See Fishhawk.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A blockhead; a dunce.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
              be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
              buzzard.                              --Goldsmith.
        [1913 Webster]

cathartes aura - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Cathartes aura
      n 1: a New World vulture that is common in South America and
           Central America and the southern United States [syn:
           buzzard, turkey buzzard, turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
           ]