Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

This odonym was chosen by the Municipality to respect the rural character of Potton, and themes already in place such as trees, flowers and birds. 

And here we have an interesting one!  Urubu in French is the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), or buzzard, a bird found throughout most of North and South America.  They are very large birds, with a wingspan of around 180 cm (72'') in a mature bird.  In flight, the wing tips appear spread and finger-like.  They inhabit open areas like shrub land, pastures and the like.  The turkey vulture is a scavenger and it feeds almost exclusively on carrion, using its keen eyes and sense of smell for it flies low enough to detect the gasses produced by the beginnings of the decay process in dead animals.  It is not the prettiest of fliers, since it uses thermals to soar in wide circles, flapping its wings infrequently.  It roosts in large community groups, nesting in hollow trees, caves, or thickets.  Turkey vultures or buzzards lack a syrinx, or vocal organ; therefore its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses.  Turkey vultures have few natural predators, because of its ability to “ spit » the foul-smelling contents of its crop onto its pursuer!  Its bald, red head is reminiscent of that of the wild turkey, hence its name.^[1]  And here is the example of a word that sounds far more intriguing in the French language than it conjures in English!