A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture. 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.
Vultures are relatively silent as they lack a syrinx so they can only hiss, growl, and snarl. 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.
Vultures play a prominent role in African folklore. Their ability to show up wherever there is a carcass leads many to believe they dream of the location of food or use telepathy.
Credits:
Created with images by britaseifert - "Portrait of a griffon vulture Gyps fulvus sitting on a tree stump" • Sergey Ryzhkov - "Griffon vulture perched on a stone. Isolated" • Brian E Kushner - "Turkey Vulture in Flight" • britaseifert - "Portrait of a griffon vulture Gyps fulvus sitting on a tree stump" • Sebastiaan/Wirestock - "Portrait of a Griffon vulture, a bird of prey" • Sourabh - "Griffon vulture or Eurasian Griffon or Gyps fulvus at dumping yard of jorbeer conservation reserve , bikaner, Rajasthan, India" • phototrip.cz - "Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian vulture - Torgos tracheliotos, Old World vulture belonging to bird order Accipitriformes, pair two scavengers feeding on the carcass in Masai Mara Kenya, face to face." • phototrip.cz - "Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian vulture - Torgos tracheliotos, Old World vulture belonging to bird order Accipitriformes, pair two scavengers feeding on the carcass in Masai Mara Kenya, face to face." • Sergey Ryzhkov - "Griffon vulture perched on a stone. Isolated" • britaseifert - "Portrait of a griffon vulture Gyps fulvus sitting on a tree stump" • Leny Silina Helmig - "portrait of a vulture"