Which vulture has a bare red head and is native to the Americas?

The turkey vulture has a bare red head and is native to the Americas.

Cathartes aura is a widespread scavenging bird found from southern Canada to the southern tip of South America. Its red, featherless head resembles that of a wild turkey, which inspired its common name. The body is dark, while the underside of the flight feathers appears silvery in soaring birds.

Turkey vultures locate carrion with an unusually well-developed sense of smell. They often circle on rising air currents and may gather around carcasses with other vultures. Their featherless heads are easier to keep clean while feeding, and their digestive systems help them process decaying flesh.

The species is often mistaken for the similar black vulture. Black vultures have shorter tails, broader wings, and pale patches concentrated near the wingtips. Turkey vultures are generally more solitary in flight and show a characteristic rocking motion as they soar.