pauldavidmena
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vulture
We've got vultures in our backyard - which also happens to be a herring run around this time of the year. Here's a photo taken a few days ago of a
mated pair, with the male trying to impress the female with his wingspan.
But I digress. I've heard several different translations of "vulture" in Spanish. My favorite - mostly because I like the way it sounds - is
zopilote, but according to WordReference.com, [img]buitre[/img] is more commonly used in Mexico. I don't recall hearing either during my
visits to Baja, so I'm wondering which scavenger reigns supreme.
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lencho
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Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  | | ...to WordReference.com, [img]buitre[/img] is more commonly used in Mexico. I don't recall hearing either during my visits to Baja, so I'm wondering
which scavenger reigns supreme. |
That statement from Wordreference, surprises me; could you please give a link to that entry?
Though I've heard both, "zopilote" comes from the Nahuatl and I would assume it's more "Mexican".
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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pauldavidmena
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Here is a link to the initial request for the Spanish translation of "vulture." It defaults to buitre. However if I reverse the request
and try to translate zopilote to English, the result shows that it translates to "vulture," but indicates that buitre is more common to Mexico.
Our "neighbors" are vultures and not buzzards because they have no head features, but that's besides the point. 
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surfhat
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Raptors, as a species, have always fascinated me.
In north coastal San Diego county I have seen, or had seen, ouch! Red tailed Hawks and owls next door.
The nice home that came still allowed a very few sightings compared to the open field it had been.
Every sighting of owls and hawks is a gift.
Ospreys in Baja reign supreme.
If anyone cares to see an inhabited live nest up close, take a walk down the long pier at the gray whale center on the inner lagoon just south of GN.
A birdwatchers dream!
They are habituated enough to allow us within 10' of their occupied nest. Occupied, specifically during the whale season that I cannot resist every
year.
Where else, for you bird watchers out there, can you get so close to a live raptors nest without them flying off?
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lencho
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| Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena | Here is a link to the initial request for the Spanish translation of "vulture." It defaults to buitre. However if I reverse the request
and try to translate zopilote to English, the result shows that it translates to "vulture," but indicates that buitre is more common to Mexico.
|
My understanding of what you've shown there is that "zopilote" is a Central American and Mexican term, which in "generic" Spanish, is known as a
"buitre". Not that buitre is the regional term.
FWIW, I just asked a Paceño biologist friend and he said for him they're interchangable.
Though if I were insulting a person, I'd defer to "buitre"; more of a literary register.
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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pauldavidmena
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Thanks for the reply! They're certainly fascinating creatures, graceful in flight and downright intimidating up close. There are 6 of them hanging out
on the Centerville River between our house and the estuary that opens up into Nantucket Sound. We think two of them are a mated pair, and that the
others might be juveniles.
Fun fact: I've learned from Wikipedia that a group of vultures is known as a "committee."
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Pablito1
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In Peru I think that vultures are commonly called gallinazo.
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pauldavidmena
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gallinazo shows up in Wordreference.com as one of many translations of "vulture." Those creepy creatures certainly get a lot of attention!
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RnR
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On the East Cape and around the La Paz area, the only word for vultures that I have heard is "Zopilote".
Also, check out the logo for the ice cream shop in San Bartolo, (just north of Los Barriles on Mex 1) -
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lencho
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| Quote: Originally posted by RnR | | Also, check out the logo for the ice cream shop in San Bartolo, (just north of Los Barriles on Mex 1) - |
Obviously owned by foreigners (Mexicans know this is BC Sur). 
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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