Suchergebnisse
Learn about the 23 species of vultures, including Old World and New World vultures, and their evolution, classification, and diet. Find out how vultures use their sense of smell, bald head, and social behavior to scavenge on carrion.
- Bearded Vultures
- Egyptian Vultures
- Cinereous Vultures
- Griffon Vultures
- Red-Headed Vultures
- White-rumped Vultures
- Indian Vultures
- White-Backed Vultures
- Cape Vultures
- Lappet-faced Vultures
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Scientific name: Gypaetus barbatus This bird is the closest living relative of the Egyptian vulture. It is often found in parts of southern Europe, central and southwestern Asia, the Indian subcontinent, as well as pockets around Africa. Bearded vultures are very large – their wingspan can grow longer than 9 feet. They fly at great heights, prowlin...
Scientific name: Neophron percnopterus Also known as the pharaoh’s chicken, the Egyptian vulture is common across southern Europe, northern Africa, and parts of southwestern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They’re normally white, while their wings have some black feathers. Because of their white plumage, they get dirty easily and are often thought ...
Scientific name: Aegypius monachus Also known as the black vulture (not to be confused with the actual black vulture, Coragyps atratus), these birds with a 10-foot wingspan occupy a very wide range from South Korea all the way to India in southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula in the west. An isolated population exists in southwestern Europe. Thes...
Scientific name: Gyps fulvus With a distribution very similar to cinereous vultures, although griffon vultures aren’t found more eastern than India, these vultures are a common species in their respective environments. There, they often congregate in flocks to find food, while they also establish nesting colonies on cliffs. Griffon vultures can liv...
Scientific name: Sarcogyps calvus As the name suggests, this threatened speciesof vultures has a distinctly red head. It’s also known under the name ‘Asian king vulture’, as it’s mainly found on the Indian subcontinent. Their population there is, unfortunately, declining. This happened very recently and through the use of diclofenac in veterinary m...
Scientific name: Gyps bengalensis Just like the red-headed vultures, white-rumped vultures are a victim of diclofenac poisoning. Because of this, their population in Asia has declinedfrom millions of individuals (in the 1980s) to less than 6,000 individuals today. They can reach almost 9 feet in wingspan and they have a very recognizable pattern on...
Scientific name: Gyps indicus This species is found exclusively in India and their numbers there are declining due to diclofenac poisoning. The remaining populations mostly breed on cliffs in western, central, and southern India. To feed, they often form flocks and look for carcasses together, mostly feeding on mammals. Indian vultures have distinc...
Scientific name: Gyps africanus As the name suggests, these vultures have a distinctly white back on top of their brown wings. Their necks have a white ruff, but the juveniles are mostly dark and they only develop the white coloring as adults. They’re mostly found in Africa, specifically in Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Ethiopia, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Botswa...
Scientific name: Gyps coprotheres Endemic to southern Africa, these vultures are a vulnerable species, threatened by the lack of carrion in their habitats, as well as the use of diclofenac on livestock. They can weigh up to 20 pounds, making them some of the largest raptors in Africa, while their wingspan is almost 9 feet wide. Thismakes them the t...
Scientific name: Torgos tracheliotos A species native to Africa, they’re found in southern, eastern, central, and western Africa, as well as the Iberian Peninsula. Their wingspan can be as wide as 9.5 feet and they’re recognized by their distinctly pink head. The feathers on the neck are thin. Their baldness is an evolutionary advantage – they ofte...
Learn about the different types of vultures, their habitats, diets, and threats. Compare Old World and New World vultures, and see photos of their distinctive features.
Learn about the 23 species of vultures, their diets, behaviors, and adaptations. Find out how vultures are threatened and how they benefit humans and the environment.
Learn about the 23 species of vultures, their distribution, diet, behavior, adaptations, and threats. See photos and videos of these scavenging birds with bald heads and large wings.