Vulture | Characteristics, Species, & Facts (2024)

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Written by

Lloyd Kiff Science Director, The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho. U.S.

Lloyd Kiff

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Related Topics:
condor
turkey vulture
lammergeier
Aegypiinae
Cathartidae

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vulture, any of 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics, classified in the families Accipitridae (Old World vultures) and Cathartidae (New World vultures) in the order Accipitriformes. The 7 species of New World vultures include condors, and the 15 Old World species include the lammergeier and griffon vultures. Although many members of the two groups appear similar, they are only distantly related.

All of the New World vultures and some of the Old World vultures have bare heads, a condition that prevents feathers from matting with blood when the birds reach inside carcasses. Most vultures have a large pouch in the throat (crop) and can go for long periods without food—adaptations to a feast-or-famine scavenging lifestyle. In some species the beak is exceptionally strong and heavy for tearing hide, muscle, and even bone. Eyesight in all vultures is well developed, as is the sense of smell in the turkey vulture. Old World vultures have relatively strong feet, but New World Vultures have weak flat feet that are poorly adapted for grasping.

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Vultures are widely distributed, but they are absent from Australia and most oceanic islands. Most vultures have broad food habits, consuming carrion, garbage, and even excrement, but rarely do they descend upon live animals. A few occasionally take helpless prey such as lambs and tortoises or, in the case of Andean condors, newborn calves. Vultures may remain aloft for hours, soaring gracefully on long broad wings. When one bird descends to a dead or dying animal, others may be attracted from miles away. When feeding, vultures maintain a strict social order based on body size and strength of beak. Smaller vultures must wait for the scraps left behind by the larger, dominant species. Even large vultures, however, give way to nearly all mammalian competitors, including jackals, hyenas, and coyotes.

Most vultures inhabit open country, often roosting in groups on cliffs, in tall trees, or on the ground. Old World vultures build large stick platform nests in trees or on cliffs, sometimes in large colonies. Most of the larger Old World vultures lay only a single egg. New World vultures do not build nests but lay their eggs in bare scrapes in natural cavities in cliffs or trees; none nests colonially. The smaller New World vultures lay two eggs and incubate them for just over a month. The largest species lay only a single egg that may take nearly two months to hatch. The young mature more slowly than those of typical birds of prey. New World vultures have no voice, because they lack a syrinx; they have a perforated nasal septum.

New World vultures

The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread New World vulture, breeding from Canada southward to the southern tip of South America. Northern populations are migratory. They are small brownish black vultures with red heads as adults (dark gray as juveniles) and a wingspan of nearly 2 metres (6.6 feet). They are usually the first to find carcasses, because of their well-developed sense of smell, but they are more timid than other vultures and retreat while other species feed.

In addition to the California and Andean condors, other notable New World vultures include the black vulture (Coragyps atratus), a New World vulture sometimes called a black buzzard or, inappropriately, a carrion crow. The black vulture, the most abundant vulture species of all, is a resident of the tropics and subtropics that often wanders far into temperate regions. It is a chunky black bird about 60 cm (24 inches) long, with a very short tail, short wings, a bare black head, and a feathered hindneck.

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The king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) is the most colourful vulture. The head and neck are red, yellow, and bluish; the eyes are white with red eye-rings; the body is buff above and white below; and the neck fringe is gray. Its wingspan is about 2 metres; the body is about 80 cm (31 inches) long. King vultures range from southern Mexico to Argentina, where they soar singly or in pairs over tropical forests.

New World vultures are generally classified with storks in the order Ciconiiformes.

Old World vultures

The cinereous vulture, sometimes called the black vulture (Aegypius monachus), is one of the largest flying birds. Many scientists consider this bird to be the largest vulture and the largest bird of prey. It is about 1 metre (3.3 feet) long and 12.5 kg (27.5 pounds) in weight, with a wingspan of about 2.7 metres (8.9 feet). Entirely black with very broad wings and a short, slightly wedge-shaped tail, it ranges through southern Europe, Asia Minor, and the central steppes and highest mountains of Asia, nesting in tall trees. Many of these regions are also inhabited by the slightly smaller bearded vulture, or lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus).

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), also called Pharaoh’s chicken, is a small Old World vulture about 60 cm (24 inches) long. It is white with black flight feathers, a bare face, and a cascading mane of feathers. This vulture’s range is northern and eastern Africa, southern Europe, and the Middle East to Afghanistan and India.

The common griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), or Eurasian griffon, is an Old World vulture of northwestern Africa, the Spanish highlands, southern Russia, and the Balkans. Gray above and reddish brown with white streaking below, it is about one metre (three feet) long. The genus Gyps contains seven similar species, including some of the most common vultures. In South Asia three Gyps species, the Asian white-backed vulture (G. bengalensis), the long-billed vulture (G. indicus), and the slender-billed vulture (G. tenuirostris), have been brought close to extinction by feeding on the carcasses of dead cattle that had been given painkilling drugs; the painkillers cause kidney failure in the vultures.

The lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotus), sometimes called the eared, or Nubian, vulture, is a huge Old World vulture of arid Africa. Being 1 metre (3.3 feet) tall, with a 2.7-metre (8.9-foot) wingspan, it dominates all other vultures when feeding. It is black and brown above and has a wedge-shaped tail; there is white down on the underparts. Large folds of skin hang from the sides of its bare head. The face is pink or reddish.

The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) lives in western and central Africa. It is about 50 cm (20 inches) long and has a bare orange face and yellow beak. It is unusual in being primarily vegetarian, although it sometimes takes crustaceans and dead fish.

The red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), often called the Pondicherry vulture or the Indian (black) vulture, is an Old World vulture ranging from Pakistan to Malaysia. It is about 75 cm (30 inches) long and has a wingspan of about 2.7 metres (8.9 feet). It is black with white down on the breast and has a huge black beak and large lappets on the sides of the neck.

The white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) is about 80 cm (31 inches) long and has a wingspan of about 1.8 metres (6 feet). Black with white secondary wing feathers and belly, it has a high black neck fringe and a massive red beak. This bird has a uniquely triangular head, which is pale yellowish and bare except for a cap of white down.

Old World vultures comprise the subfamily Aegyptiinae of the hawk and eagle family, Accipitridae, which is part of the order Accipitriformes.

Lloyd Kiff The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Vulture | Characteristics, Species, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

Vulture | Characteristics, Species, & Facts? ›

Vultures are large, social raptors that live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. The 23 species are divided into New World vultures from the Americas and Old World vultures from Europe, Asia, and Africa. An example of convergent evolution, these groups evolved independently and are not closely related.

What are some cool facts about vultures? ›

Interesting Facts about Vultures

Vultures are relatively silent as they lack a syrinx so they can only hiss, growl, and snarl. They are predominantly scavengers but will occasionally kill small animals that are sick or dying. However, they will not eat a carcass that is more than a few days old as it become putrid.

How many species of vultures are there in the world? ›

There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and South America and consist of seven identified species, all belonging to the Cathartidae family.

What is the most aggressive vulture? ›

Black vultures, smaller and more aggressive than turkey vultures, have been seen attacking newborn calves and lambs. Black vultures' range and population have expanded since the 1980s, resulting in increased property damage, livestock depredation, and aircraft collisions.

What is the most beautiful vulture species? ›

The King Vulture is arguably one of the world's most beautiful vultures. It is covered in predominantly white feathers. Its white wings are highlighted with contrasting black feather tips, wing coverts and tail.

Do vultures recognize people? ›

Tame turkey vultures recognize their human caretakers, and show affection to the ones they like.

Why do vultures have a bad reputation? ›

Vultures, with their big, ungainly wings, beaky faces and fondness for scavenging on dead meat, have a terrible reputation. They are seen as harbingers of death, circling dying animals, ready to pick at decaying flesh.

What is the rarest vulture in the world? ›

The white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is an Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000, as the population severely declined. White-rumped vultures die of kidney failure caused by diclofenac poisoning.

What is a flock of vultures called? ›

A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt. In flight, a group of vultures is a kettle and when feeding at a carcass, the group is referred to as a wake.

What's the difference between vultures and buzzards? ›

There are New World vultures, which consist of the Cathartidae family, and there are Old World vultures, which consist of the Accipitridae family. Buzzards, however, are a species of hawk that belong to the Buteo genus. They are predators that go after live prey, not carrion.

Do vultures mate for life? ›

Black Vultures are monogamous and pairs are believed to mate for life. Pairs remain together year-round. Family members associate more closely with each other than with other individuals. Black Vultures nest in dark recesses usually under some type of cover.

What are vultures afraid of? ›

Vultures are afraid of hawks and owls. Use this fear to your advantage. Of course, you cannot bring these carnivorous birds to your yard- they will cause more trouble than the vultures. To scare away the vultures put decoys of owls and hawks on nearby trees.

Where do vultures sleep at night? ›

Black vultures sleep at predetermined roost sites scattered around the area where they forage for food. Adult vultures usually roost at the same roost site each night but can shift depending on food availability relative to existing roosts. Young vultures may switch roosts until they settle down, at least temporarily.

What is the lifespan of a vulture? ›

In the wild vultures live around 20 years. Under human care they can live into their 30s. Vultures form monogamous pairs for life, and males will court females by showing off their flying skills, almost touching the females' wing tip as they fly by.

What is the world's largest vulture? ›

It is also known as the black vulture, monk vulture and Eurasian black vulture. With a body length of 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in), 3.1 m (10 ft) across the wings and a maximum weight of 14 kg (31 lb), it is the largest Old World vulture and largest member of the Accipitridae family.

What is the strongest type of vulture? ›

The Lappet-faced Vulture is thought to be the most powerful vulture in Africa. The Lappet-faced Vulture can eat up to 1,450 g (51 oz) of food in one meal. Though largely a scavenging bird, this large vulture also hunts some prey including small mammals, reptiles, fish, and even birds - including baby flamingos.

How do vultures cry? ›

Turkey Vultures lack the vocal organs to make proper songs. Most of their vocalizations come down to a form of low, guttural hiss made when they are irritated or vying for a better spot on a carcass. They also may give a low, nasal whine while in flight.

Do vultures have teeth? ›

Birds do not have teeth, although they may have ridges on their bills that help them grip food. Birds swallow their food whole, and their gizzard (a muscular part of their stomach) grinds up the food so they can digest it.

How far can vultures fly up? ›

Fun Facts. Rüppell's griffon vultures have been documented as having reached heights of over 36,000 feet (10,973 meters) above sea level. This discovery came at a cost; an individual was sucked into the engine of an aircraft flying at 36,100 feet (11,003 meters) above Cote d'Ivoire.

What are vultures weaknesses? ›

Vultures have relatively weak feet compared to hawks and eagles, however, they have incredibly strong beaks which allow them to tear into their meal, sometimes working as a team to pull apart tougher carcasses.

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