A vulture is a unique bird known as a bird of prey. This bird scavenges on carrion. Vultures are sociable birds and are mostly seen as a collective unit. However, they have different names according to what they do at a specific time.
These are fascinating birds found on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica.
They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carcasses and preventing disease spread. Today, we will learn some amazing Vulture Facts.
Facts About Vultures
There are Old World and New World vultures:
There are mainly Old World and New World vultures. Old World vultures have 16 types of living species that can be found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. On the other hand, New World vultures have seven types of species that can be found in North and South America.
Vultures have different names depending on their activities
A group of vultures has different names based on their different activities. When they are in flight, they are called a ‘kettle.’ However, when they are resting in trees or on the ground, they are known as ‘committee,’ when they are feeding, they are termed a ‘wake.’
Outside of the oceans, these vultures are the only well-known birds that are obligate scavengers.
Vultures are bald birds
A specific characteristic of many vultures is that they are bald, unfeather-headed birds. The bare skin of these birds is believed to keep their head clean when feeding and even plays a vital role in thermoregulation.
Also, there is a very practical reason behind their baldness. When vultures feed on carrion, their heads often become covered in blood and other fluids. A bald head makes it much easier for vultures to remain clean and avoid infection.
Vultures Have Great Eyesight
Vultures have excellent eyesight and can spot a carcass from a great distance. In addition to this, they have a keen sense of smell. This helps them to locate their prey. Vultures can see almost four times better than us humans and also can see a wider range of colors.
Vultures Have a Unique Digestive System
Vultures are scavengers, which means they feed mostly on the remains of dead animals. So, they have a unique digestive system that enables them to eat rotting flesh without getting sick.
Vultures’ powerful stomach acid helps them digest putrid carcasses infected with botulinum toxin, anthrax bacteria, and even hog cholera bacteria that would be lethal to many other scavengers. Hence, they can remove a lot of harmful bacteria from the environment.
Vultures are social birds
Vultures are social birds and can be found in large groups. They usually communicate through grunts, hisses, and other vocalizations. They also engage in social grooming, which assists them in maintaining their feathers and removing any parasites.
Vultures Have a Life Span Of an Average of Around 20 Years
Vultures have a relatively long lifespan. Some of their species can even live up to thirty years in the wild. This is because they usually eat carrions, which reduces their risk of contracting diseases.
amazingly efficient feeders With Strong Beak
Vultures are very efficient feeders and can easily strip a carcass down to the bones in just a few hours.
Their strong beaks and talons help them tear through flesh and break bones. Moreover, their strong sense of smell helps them detect the scent of rotting flesh from more than a mile away.
Importance of Vultures in Our Ecosystem
Vultures play a vital role in the ecosystem by cleaning up a lot of carcasses and preventing the spread of disease.
Without this bird, carcasses would rot and become a breeding ground for bacteria and other unwanted pathogens.
Vultures’ Unique Cooling Method
Vultures can be seen hunching their bodies and tucking their heads in the cold. They also open their large wings and stretch their necks in the heat. They defecate on their legs, which helps evaporate moisture and cool them down.
New World vultures even urinate straight down their legs; hence, the uric acid can kill bacteria accumulated from walking through carcasses.
The Bearded Vulture Specializing in Eating Bones
These unique birds do not carry food to their children in their talons; instead, they disgorge it from their crops. The bearded vulture in the mountains is the only species specializing in eating bones. These birds carry bones to the nest for the young and only hunt some live prey.
Vultures Are Built for Soaring With Broad Wings
Vultures have broad, long wings that are perfectly designed for soaring. They can stay aloft for several hours at a time. This enables them to cover large distances in search of food.
The Andean condor vultures, found in South America, have the largest wingspan among all vultures. When extending their wings fully, they spread 10 to 11 feet.
Vultures Are One of The Endangered Species of Birds
Many species of vultures are endangered, with some populations declining by almost 99%. Vultures in South Asia, especially Nepal and India, have dramatically reduced since the early 1990s.
It has been discovered that this decline resulted from the residues of the veterinary drug Diclofenac in animal carcasses. Hence, the government of India has taken this fact seriously and banned the use of this drug on animals.
Vultures May Vomit if Threatened
Some vultures often vomit when approached or threatened. However, some people believe those vultures do not “projectile vomit” on their attacker to defend themselves but lighten their load, which can help them take off easily. The vomited meal residue can distract their predator, offering them much time to escape.
Vultures Often Associated with Death
In multiple cultures, vultures are often associated with death and are sometimes seen as a symbol of bad luck or doom. This is because they feed on carrion, which is associated with decay.
Egyptians Believed All Vultures Were Female
In ancient times, Egyptians believed that all types of vultures were female and were born from eggs without the intervention of a male.
Thus, those birds were even linked to motherhood and purity. However, these birds were also associated with the eternal cycle of rebirth and death.
Vultures were present in many ancient myths and stories
In pre-Columbian times, these unique birds, known as vultures, were considered extraordinary beings and had high iconographic status.
Vultures appear in various Mesoamerican legends, myths, and even fables. Many civilizations, like the Aztecs and Mayans, developed stories about vultures. Many Mesoamerican stories depict vultures negatively, whereas others have more positive attitudes.
decreasing population Of Vultures can be a threat to humans
The decreased population of vultures is a big threat to us humans. For instance, the declines in the populations of this unique bird species may result in resource damage and increased disease transmission through increased numbers of pests.
Vultures help us indirectly control these disease vectors and pests through carcass competition.
The Black Vultures Lay Eggs on The Ground
After mating, the black vultures do not build nests. Instead, they usually lay their eggs directly on the ground.
In some cases, they lay eggs in bare, dark cavities found in caves, cliffs, hollowed trees or stumps, brush piles, or abandoned buildings.
the Smallest Vultures Around the World Is the Crow-Sized Hood
The vulture, known as a crow-sized hooded vulture, is one of the smallest vultures around the world. These birds have a wingspan of just five feet, and you can see them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Hence, at the end of this article, we learned about 21 amazing facts about vultures. These facts have offered us a clear picture of this significant bird of our ecosystem. To know more, you can visit our website.
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