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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
vulture |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Falconiformes |
| FAMILY: |
Divided
into the "Old World" vultures of Eurasia
and Africa (Family Accipitridae) and "New World" vultures of the Americas (Family Cathartidae). Old
World vultures are more related to hawks while New
World vultures have been genetically linked to storks. |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
No
data |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
two families of vultures are classified together
based on superficial similarities. Both families
have weak feet adapted more for walking than clutching,
and feathers that are mostly absent from their heads
and necks. |
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| SIZE: |
60-140 cm (24-55 in.); Andean condors have a wingspan
of up to 3 m (10 ft.) making them one of the world's
largest flying birds |
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| WEIGHT: |
Maximum
weight of more than 12 kg (25 lb.) for the Andean
condor |
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| DIET: |
All
vultures feed on carrion (animal carcasses), except
for palm-nut vultures (Gyphohierax angolensis),
which feed on the fruit of the oil palm. Some species
also hunt small prey, such as insects, lizards,
smaller birds and rodents. Pieces of decaying meat
and skin are less apt to stick to bare heads than
to a thick mat of feathers. |
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| INCUBATION: |
Vultures
usually have one mate a year. Nests are constructed
using sticks and leaves, and are built in trees
and cliffs. The same nest may be used for several
years. |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Most
species produce 1 chick, and the male and female
share parental responsibilities. They take turns
with one sitting on the nest while its mate finds
food that, upon return, is regurgitated for the
hatching. |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
5-7
years, dependant on species |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
18
years or more, large species up to 50 years |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Varies;
depends on species |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Many
species listed; includes 4 species listed as Critically
Endangered |
| CITES |
Many
species listed |
| USFWS |
California
condors are listed as Endangered |
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| 1. |
Vultures
are such efficient feeders that they can pick the
body of a small animal clean in less than half an
hour. Some vultures go one step further by eating
the bones as well, thus making sure no part of a
meal is wasted. |
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| 2. |
When
vultures bask after meals, the heat of the sun dries
any potentially bacteria-ridden bits of food that
easily fall off, helping them remain healthy. |
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| 3. |
Vultures
have keen eyesight. It is believed they are able
to spot a three-foot carcass from four miles away
on the open plains. In some species, when an individual
sees a carcass it begins to circle above it. This
draws the attention of other vultures that then
join in. |
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| 4. |
Once
the vultures have landed, they fight and bicker
over feeding spots. For the most part, many vulture
species are relatively silent, but not when it comes
to a prime place at the dinner table! |
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| 5. |
Once
on the carcass, vultures plant their feet for stability
and pull at the flesh with their beaks. Many species
of vultures feed together with little competition,
because they do not feed on the same kind of meat
within the carcass. |
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| 6. |
When
white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) of
Africa spot dying or dead animals, they descend
upon it, plant their feet in the remains, and pull
the flesh apart with their beaks. |
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| 7. |
New
World vultures include Andean condors (Vultur
gryphus) and California condors (Gymnogyps
californianus). The extremely large Andean condors
eat mostly carrion, although they may attack small
or weak animals such as newborn llamas, lambs, or
old goats. Despite their great size, they fly effortlessly
for hundreds of miles in search of food and some
have been seen gliding at an altitude of 4,472 m
(15,000 ft.). |
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| 8. |
Turkey
vultures (Cathartes aura) and black vultures
(Coragyps atratus) are widespread across
the Americas. Rare for birds of prey, turkey vultures
actually have a keen sense of smell, while black
vultures rely on their eyesight to find food. |
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| 9. |
For
more information about raptors, explore the RAPTORS INFOBOOK. |
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Vultures serve an important function as nature's
garbage collectors, helping to keep the environment
clean of waste. Habitats must be preserved and
pollutants eliminated so these important predators
are not lost.
Many
species of vultures that live throughout Africa
have a great impact on their surroundings. They
vary from small birds with slender bills, such
as hooded vultures, to large hunters with heavy
bills, such as African white-backed vultures.
These important adaptations help vultures survive
and perform important roles in the environment.
Vultures feed on the remains of dead animals,
sticking their heads deep into the body cavity
to pick bits of food.
Vultures
play a prominent role in African folklore. Their
ability to show up wherever there is a carcass
leads many to believe they dream the location
of food or use telepathy.
Turkey
vultures are so resistant to botulism that, when
tested, they showed no ill effects when injected
with enough botulinus to kill 300,000 guinea pigs.
Vultures are immensely important for removing
potentially dangerous, bacteria-ridden carcasses
from the environment.
Vultures
have long been misunderstood and persecuted by
humans, suffering from loss of habitat, illegal
hunting and poisons that can accumulate through
time in their prey. New World vultures in America,
such as the extremely rare California condor,
have also been devastated by hunting and habitat
loss. Hopefully, captive breeding and release
programs will help these birds. Another rare species
is the European black vulture (Aegypius monachus).
There may only be 800 European black vultures
left worldwide, but fortunately more than 20 chicks
have been hatched through captive breeding programs.
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|
Brown, L. and D. Amadon. Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons
of the World, Vol. 1. Wellfleet Press, NJ, 1989. |
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| Dewitt,
L. Eagles, Hawks, and other Birds of Prey.
Franklin Watts, NY, 1989. |
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Perrins,
C.M. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds.
Prentice-Hall, NY, 1990.
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| Perrins,
C.M. and A.L.A. Middleton, Eds. The Encyclopedia
of Birds. Facts on File, Inc., NY, 1985. |
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| http://www.birdlife.org/ |
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