What is this vulture doing?

What is this, the Angel of Death? What is this vulture doing?

Indeed, this makes for a curious sight. Turkey vultures can be seen striking this pose in the morning sun. This is called the “horaltic pose.” While they may appear to be doing their pre-flight stretching exercises, they are actually warming themselves up for a day on the wing. Dark colors absorb sunlight and generate heat. Touch a dark-colored vehicle on a sunny day to feel for yourself. By spreading their dark-colored wings with backs to the sun, vultures increase their heating surface and thus warm themselves faster.

Thanks to Ed Tornberg for his photograph of a turkey vulture “horalticking” atop a bluebird box.

-Naturalist Dan Best