Up close, Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura are truly ugly beasts (8892). This close-up view was possible because there was a Turkey Vulture at the Oregon Coast Aquarium aviary. Note the faint, out-of-focus bars. I asked the keeper why these birds are so ugly thinking that the answer would be that it sacred away possible predators. Her answer was they had no feathers on their head allowing them to dig into carrion without coming back with the head full of bloody feathers. I guess most birds would be this ugly if they did not feathers on their head.
The three other photos were taken along the shores of the McKenzie River during our drift-boat fishing trip. The vultures appear to be drying out their feathers.