New World vulture
family of birds / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New World vultures are the group of vultures that are found in the Americas. They form the family Cathartidae. There are seven species in five genera. Four of the genera have only one species each.
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Genera ...
New World vultures | |
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American black vultures on a cow carcass | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Cathartidae Lafresnaye, 1839 |
Genera | |
Cathartes |
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These are large birds of prey that feed on the meat of dead or dying animals. The name "Cathartidae" comes from the Greek word katharsis meaning to purge or make clean.
Unlike other birds of prey, they have a good sense of smell. The opening of their nostrils has a hole through from one side of the beak to the other. Some other vultures hop to move on the ground, but the New World vultures walk.
The two largest species are called condors.