What Bird of Prey is this?

[WannaBeHillBilly]

With many of our crow-friends gone for the winter, my ducks are spotting airborne dangers more frequently now. On Saturday a large bird of prey was circling over us, caught it on video when it came lower and sat up shop in a tree:

Anybody an idea what kind of predator this is? - And is it a particular danger to my ducks?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.

 

[hmarg06]

Hard to tell from the video, but I'm thinking a Vulture. Is that's the case, there should be no danger to your birds. One way to spot a Vulture vs a Juvenile Bald Eagle when flying is that Vultures make a more pronounced "V" in wing shape.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Hard to tell from the video, but I'm thinking a Vulture. Is that's the case, there should be no danger to your birds. One way to spot a Vulture vs a Juvenile Bald Eagle when flying is that Vultures make a more pronounced "V" in wing shape.

Thank you very much for your answer!
I thought »vulture« too, it isn't visible on that video, but the bird's heads and necks are bald with gray skin and the feathers at the end of the wings spread out like fingers.
Also, we have seed those birds here before and the crows did not really mind about those, compared to their vicious attacks to red-tail hawks…

 

[FortCluck]

I'd agree with a vulture, really large wingspan and coloring is leading me to agree. I have tons of these that fly above my chickens, but they usually only eat dead things. I had one steal a corn cob from my fenced area and the chickens were sad

 

[imnukensc]

Looks like a buzzard to me, too. No threat to your ducks.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Looks like a buzzard to me, too. No threat to your ducks.

Buzzards don't hunt other birds? - That bird was HUUUGE! I estimate 6' from wing-tip to wing tip.

 

[hmarg06]

I wasn't sure if you had Turkey Vultures and /or Black Vultures in your part of the country. We only have Turkey in MN, but if the head is bald and dark, it could be a juvenile Turkey Vulture, or a Black Vulture is you have those.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

From what I can tell, it looks like it might be a turkey vulture (but I’m on the West Coast and am used to the flight patterns of the raptors and their kin out here). If you see it again, try to get a close look at its flight feathers - turkey vultures are very dark brown - not quite black - and their wing feathers will look paler/more translucent. Also, if you have some binoculars, take a close look at its head. They’re called turkey vultures for a reason .

 

[hmarg06]

It would be pretty unlikely for a vulture to go after live birds. They don't have the same super sharp talons and strong feet for killing as the rest of the raptors. I won't say it's impossible, but highly unlikely for sure. They are made mostly for eating dead things. I've never thought of them as a threat, and they are always around all summer.

 

[imnukensc]

Buzzards don't hunt other birds?

No.