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Revision as of 23:10, 11 December 2003 edit217.184.159.215 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 22:59, 18 February 2004 edit undoMPF (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users42,227 editsm linksNext edit →
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**** ] ''Gyps himalayensis'' **** ] ''Gyps himalayensis''
**** ], ''Gyps africanus'' **** ], ''Gyps africanus''
**** Cape Griffon, ''Gyps coprotheres'' **** ], ''Gyps coprotheres''
**** ], ''Trogos tracheliotus'' **** ], ''Trogos tracheliotus''
**** ] or Monk Vulture, ''Aegypius monachus'' **** ] or Monk Vulture, ''Aegypius monachus''
Line 52: Line 52:
**** ], ''Gypohierax angolensis'' **** ], ''Gypohierax angolensis''
**** ], ''Necrosyrtes monachus'' **** ], ''Necrosyrtes monachus''
**** White-headed Vulture, ''Trigonoceps occipitalis'' **** ], ''Trigonoceps occipitalis''
**** Red-headed Vulture, ''Sarcogyps calvus'' **** ], ''Sarcogyps calvus''
*** (other subfamilies not listed here) *** (other subfamilies not listed here)
** Family ]: Osprey ** Family ]: Osprey

Revision as of 22:59, 18 February 2004

Old World vultures
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family†:Accipitridae
Genera

Gypaetus 

Gyps   

Trogos   

Aegypius   

Neophron   

Gypohierax   

Necrosyrtes
† see also: Accipitridae

Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.

They are not at all closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures and condors, and do not share that group’s good sense of smell. The similarities between the two groups are due to convergent evolution rather than a close relationship.

Vultures are scavenging birds, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals. Old World vultures find carcasses exclusively by sight.

A particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, devoid of feathers. This is because a feathered head would become spattered with blood and other fluids, and thus be difficult to keep clean.

Species are: