FaunaHub

Vulture

BirdScavengerWild

A turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) soaring with broad wings held in a shallow V.

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura).

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Vultures are large scavenging birds that feed mainly on carrion. Confusingly, two unrelated groups are both called "vulture": the New World vultures of the Americas (such as the turkey vulture, Cathartes aura, used here as a reference) and the Old World vultures of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They resemble each other through convergent evolution — adapting to similar scavenging lifestyles — but are not close relatives.

Habitat & Range

Vultures occur across much of the world in open and semi-open country — grasslands, deserts, mountains, and farmland — where they can find carcasses and ride rising air to search wide areas. The turkey vulture ranges widely across the Americas. Old World vultures occupy Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. Habitat and range vary by species and group.

Diet

Vultures are specialist scavengers, feeding largely on the carcasses of dead animals. By rapidly consuming carrion, they help recycle nutrients and limit the spread of disease — an ecological service of real importance. Some New World vultures, including the turkey vulture, locate food partly by an unusually good sense of smell. Diet is overwhelmingly carrion across the group.

Behavior

Vultures are superb soaring birds, using thermals to cover large distances with little effort while searching for food. Many gather at carcasses and roost communally. Their bald or sparsely feathered heads are an adaptation linked to feeding on carcasses. New and Old World vultures differ in some behaviours, including how they find food. Behaviour varies by species.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Vultures are wild birds, not pets, and provide a vital clean-up service in ecosystems. Several vulture species — particularly in Asia and Africa — have suffered dramatic declines, in some cases linked to poisoning and certain veterinary drugs in carcasses, and are now seriously threatened, while others remain more common. Because status varies sharply by species and is actively monitored, it should be verified against current IUCN Red List and conservation sources.

Appearance & Recognition

Vultures are large, broad-winged birds, usually dark, with bare or lightly feathered heads. The turkey vulture is blackish-brown with a small red head and, in flight, holds its wings in a shallow V and rocks from side to side. Old World vultures include some very large, heavy-billed species. The bald head, soaring flight, and scavenging habits identify vultures, though the two groups differ in detail.

Similar Animals

Old World vultures are members of the family Accipitridae, related to the hawks and eagles covered on FaunaHub. New World vultures are a separate group whose exact relationships have been debated. Despite the shared name and look, the two vulture groups are an example of convergent evolution rather than close kinship.

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More photos of the vulture

A turkey vulture soaring against a blue sky.

A turkey vulture soaring.

Image: Dori, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Vulture

Are all vultures related?
No. "Vulture" covers two separate groups — New World vultures (the Americas) and Old World vultures (Europe, Asia, Africa). They look and behave similarly because of convergent evolution toward a scavenging lifestyle, not because they are close relatives.
Why are vultures important?
Vultures rapidly consume carcasses, recycling nutrients and helping to limit the spread of disease from dead animals. This clean-up role makes them ecologically valuable, which is part of why declines in some vulture populations are a serious concern.
Are vultures endangered?
Some are. Several vulture species, especially in Asia and Africa, have declined dramatically and are seriously threatened, in some cases linked to poisoning, while others remain more common. Status varies by species and should be checked against current IUCN sources.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.