Vulture Facts

Vultures may not be known for their good looks however they do play an incredibly important role in the food chain and when it comes to preventing disease. There are many other interesting things you’ll want to know about these often misunderstood birds as well. So here are some of the most amazing vulture facts.

The Largest Vulture Is The Andean Condor

The Andean condor is a huge bird and is considered to be the largest vulture species. Its wingspan can reach close to an astounding eleven feet wide. These huge birds use their wide wingspan to help them glide on top of air currents which uses less energy than flapping their wings. The Andean condor also happens to be the heaviest flying bird in the world.

They’re Not Really Buzzards

It’s not uncommon to hear vultures referred to as buzzards. The turkey vulture in particular is often called the turkey buzzard, and the black vulture is called the black buzzard. However, vultures are not buzzards.

Buzzards are actually several species of hawks from the genus Buteo which are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. When early colonists came to North America the vultures they saw looked similar to the buzzards they were familiar with and the name stuck. It is still commonly used although technically incorrect.

Vulture Facts

 

 

Vultures Have Highly Corrosive Stomach Acid

Vultures often eat rotting carcasses that are infected with dangerous bacteria. However, their stomach acid is extremely corrosive. This kills the bacteria, allowing the vulture to feed on carcasses infected with deadly bacteria without becoming infected themselves.

Vultures Function As Nature’s Cleanup Crew

Vultures play a vital role in the food chain. As scavengers, they help to eliminate the carcasses of dead animals. And in addition to cleaning up, this also helps to stop the spread of harmful bacteria and diseases that could have potentially spread to humans for instance anthrax and rabies. This is one of the vulture bird facts many people are surprised to hear considering the vulture often has a bad reputation.

Vulture Facts

 

 

Vultures Are Classified Into Two Main Groups

There are two main groups of vultures:  the Old World vultures and the New World vultures. The two groups are not closely related. Old World vultures are found in Africa, Asia, and Europe and belong to the family Accipitridae. In contrast, New World vultures are found in the Americas and belong to the family Cathartidae.

The Hooded Vulture Is The Smallest Vulture Of All

The smallest vulture species is the hooded vulture. Found in sub-Saharan Africa it is about the size of a crow with a wingspan of around five feet. It has a pinkish-white head with a grey or black, “hood.”

Vulture Facts

 

 

New World Vultures Have Weak Feet

One of the main differences in the physical characteristics of the New World and Old World Vultures is their feet. The New World vultures have weak flat feet which cannot be used to grasp and are often compared to the feet of a chicken. In contrast, Old World vultures have strong feet with sharp talons which help them to feed on large animals with thick hides, although they are not suited for catching live prey.

Vultures Have Excellent Vision

Vultures spend much of their time soaring high above scanning the ground for potential meals. They, therefore, have top-notch vision. Some vulture species such as the turkey vulture also have an amazing sense of smell. One of the most interesting facts about turkey vultures is that they have the largest olfactory system of any bird. This gives them the ability to actually locate food by smell alone.

Vulture Facts

 

 

Most Vultures Have A Crop

To help them go through periods of time without eating, most vultures have a large pouch or crop in their throat. They use the crop to temporarily store food. When there is an abundance of food, they will gorge themselves causing their crop to bulge. And when disturbed by a threat they will empty their crop by vomiting to help them lighten their load and take off as quickly as possible.

A Group Of Vultures Is Called A Committee

One of the lesser-known vulture facts is that what you call a group of vultures depends on what they are doing. When they are resting in a tree or on the ground they are called a committee. A group of vultures in flight is known as a kettle. And a group of feeding vultures is called a wake.

 

Start Shopping for Birding Supplies!

 

The Most Dangerous Birds In The World

The Most Dangerous Birds In The World

Most bird species are harmless, although there is a handful that can seriously injure or even kill you.  And while the chances you’ll have a run-in with an aggressive winged beast is low, for safety’s sake (or your own curiosity) you’ll want to know more. So here’s a...

Iridescent Birds

Iridescent Birds

Iridescent birds have plumage that can appear to change color depending on the angle at which you are looking at them. This makes these special birds not only unique but also oftentimes amazingly beautiful. So here are the top iridescent bird species you’ll want to...

Flightless Birds

Flightless Birds

There are many bird species that have lost the ability to fly due to evolution. While you may be familiar with some of them already, the odds are that there are quite a few which you aren’t. So here are some of the top flightless birds and what you’ll want to know...

Birds With Hair

Birds With Hair

Many bird species can look as if they have hair on their heads. While that “hair” is really made up of feathers they are nevertheless fun to look at. So here are some of the most interesting and unique looking and birds with “hair,” you’ll ever see. Silver Pheasant...

Bearded Birds

Bearded Birds

Birds with beards are always an interesting sight. And while they may not have real facial hair like us humans, it can often look like it. So here are some of the top bearded birds and what you’ll want to know about them. Wild Turkey The male wild turkey has a beard...

Cool Looking Birds

Cool Looking Birds

With so many different bird species on the planet, they really come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and other physical characteristics. And some bird species are just much more interesting in appearance than others. The following are some cool looking...

Birds With Huge Beaks

Birds With Huge Beaks

There is an enormous variety of bird species on the planet. And while many have stunning colors or plumage, there are only a handful of birds with huge beaks. The following birds have some of the largest beaks on the planet. Toucan Toucans can have beaks that are as...

Ostrich Facts

Ostrich Facts

The ostrich is a unique bird that is famous for its enormous size. But there are many more things you’ll want to know about this unusual-looking species. So here are some of the most amazing ostrich facts. Ostriches Live In Groups With more eyes on the lookout for...

Pink Bird Species

Pink Bird Species

There’s just something special about pink plumage. Not only does it stand out visually, but the fact that it’s quite rare in the world of birds makes it even more extraordinary. So here are some of the coolest-looking pink bird species you’ll want to check out. Galah...

Birds That Look Like Penguins

Birds That Look Like Penguins

Penguins are flightless birds that typically have black and white plumage. They are top-notch swimmers that are only found in the Southern Hemisphere. However, there are quite a few other birds that are often confused with them. So here’s a list of birds that look...

Scary Looking Birds

Scary Looking Birds

There are many bird species that are known for their incredible beauty. Yet there are a few that are instead famous for their frightening appearance. So here are some scary looking birds you’ll want to check out. Shoebill The shoebill is a truly prehistoric looking...

Crazy Looking Birds

Crazy Looking Birds

There is an unbelievable number of bird species on the planet. And that means that there are a few that are bound to stand out in terms of their looks. So here are some crazy-looking birds, that you’ll not only be shocked to see but that you’ll want to learn more...

Prehistoric Looking Birds

Prehistoric Looking Birds

The birds we see today evolved from dinosaurs. Many species have changed so much that they don’t really resemble their ancestors much at all. Yet there are still a handful of birds that look as if they have stepped right out millions of years in the past. So here are...

Cassowary Facts

Cassowary Facts

The cassowary is a unique-looking flightless bird native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. And there are many fascinating things about them. So here are some of the most interesting cassowary facts. It's The Most Dangerous Bird On The Planet The cassowary...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This