Hawk-like critter

[MikeHomefire]

there is a trail I hiked a few years back it was a warm day and after a heavy rain. as I crested a hill there was all these bare old snags, in the branches was a group of turkey vulture with there wings out stretched like this...they were all slowly rotating like radar dishes, they were drying there wings I suppose in the sun. It was rather erie looking and I even have a soft spot for the buggers.

[Carbonmated]

Dont stand under one of those things. The digestive juices are regurgitated as a self defense mechanism. Smells like death too lmao. Its a buzzard.

[2crows]

... with there wings out stretched like this...they were all slowly rotating like radar dishes, they were drying there wings I suppose in the sun. It was rather erie looking and I even have a soft spot for the buggers.

I've seen wild turkeys do that on the road just outside my window (100yds). They come out of the woods after a rain or heavy dew and preen and dry themselves.

[Left Turn]

Thanks for the ID. I'll add that to the original post (and my feeble memory).

[Ahnkochee]

I remember seeing dozens of them Turkey Vultures in Northern California around the Sacramento area. First time I'd seen a vulture so quite interesting to me, that and Ravens.

[Gii shi kan dug]

Thumbs up to the turkey vulture

[PMSteve]

Your Turkey Buzzard may not have been mad at your presense. The will often spread their wings like that to cool their body temperature.

We have a lot of them around where I live. Probably due to the number of senior citizens around here.

[coaldigger]

Turkey Buzzard !

[DeriusT]

Turkey Vulture for sure. I guess turkey vulture and turkey buzzard same thing just called different depending on where you're from?

[GKiT]

After coming off the roost at night the feathers are wet with dew. They spread their wings out like that to dry out the feathers and warm up from the sun. Usually in the morning in a nice sunny spot or after a rain as well.