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A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors ). [ 2 ] 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 .
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.
The turkey vulture forages by smell, an ability that is uncommon in the avian world, often flying low to the ground to pick up the scent of ethyl mercaptan, a gas produced by the beginnings of decay in dead animals. [6] The olfactory lobe of its brain, responsible for processing smells, is particularly large compared to that of other animals. [6]
The tarsus is relatively small for the bird's size, at 8.8–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in). The proportions of the species have been compared to a falcon, scaled to an enormous size. [14] Unlike most vultures, the bearded vulture does not have a bald head. This species is relatively small-headed, although its neck is powerful and thick.
In the early 19th century, the Andean condor bred from western Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego, along the entire chain of the Andes, but its range has been greatly reduced due to human activity. [36] Its habitat is mainly composed of open grasslands and alpine areas up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in elevation.
Griffon vulture beside a white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), showing the difference in size and coloration between the two species. In Cyprus, there was a colony of fewer than 30 Eurasian griffon vultures at Episkopi, in the south of the island in 2006. [11] Griffon vulture in Hai-Bar reserve mount Carmel
The black vulture appears in a variety of Maya hieroglyphics in Mayan codices. It is normally connected with either death or as a bird of prey. The vulture's glyph is often shown attacking humans. This species lacks the religious connections that the king vulture has. While some of the glyphs clearly show the black vulture's open nostril and ...
The white-headed vulture is a medium-sized vulture, 72–85 centimetres (28–33 in) in length and with a wingspan of 207–230 centimetres (81–91 in). Females have an average weight of 4.7 kilograms (10 lb), while males are generally lighter at 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) or less.