Comparison of the diet of Turkey vulture in three regions of Northen Mexico

Abstract

In three regions of northern Mexico the food habits of Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) were determined by pellet analyses. Turkey Vultures selected small prey items in a cultivated area but used large carcasses (ungulates) in desert bnrder and mountain areas. These dietary differences may have resulted from Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) being able to exclude Turkey Vultures from large carcasses in areas where Black Vultures are common.

[ES] Se estudid la alimentacihn del aura (Cathartes aura) en tres regiones del norte de Mexico mediante el análisis de egagrbpilas. En un area cultivada las auras se alimentaron de cadâveres de pequeños animales, no obstante aproveehaban grandes earrohas (ungulados) en el borde del desierto y en areas montahosas. Estos cambios en la dicta pueden deberse a que los zopilotes (Caragyps atratus) exeluyen a las auras de las earroñas de grandes animales en areas donde las auras son inferiores en nümero