红头美洲鹫（学名：Cathartes aura），又名火鸡秃鹰，是分布在美洲的一种新大陆秃鹫。牠们分布在加拿大南部至南美洲南端，栖息在辽阔至半开放的地区，包括亚热带森林、丛林、草坪及沙漠。

红头美洲鹫是一种大型的鸟类，翼展1.7至1.83米，体长64至81厘米，重0.85至2.26公斤。牠们呈深褐色至黑色。头部及颈部没有羽毛及呈紫红色。喙短而钩，呈象牙色。牠们生活在野外的寿命为16岁，饲养的可以超过20岁。

红头美洲鹫是食腐动物，差不多只吃尸体。牠们会以视觉及嗅觉来寻找食物，以低飞来嗅出腐尸的味道。牠们的飞行是依赖空气的热流，很少会拍动双翼。牠们是以一大群聚居。牠们没有鸣管，只可以发出低嘶声。牠们会在洞、空心树或灌木丛里筑巢。牠们每年可以哺育两只雏鹫，都是吃双亲的反刍液长大。牠们的天敌非常少。牠们在美国受到了保护。

The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), also known in some North American regions as the turkey buzzard (or just buzzard), and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John crow or carrion crow, is a vulture that is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts.