| Revision as of 16:07, 22 February 2003 editJimfbleak (talk | contribs)Administrators174,680 edits added species← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:49, 22 February 2003 edit undoJimfbleak (talk | contribs)Administrators174,680 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| *], ''Gyps bengalensis'' | *], ''Gyps bengalensis'' | ||
| *], ''Gyps rueppelli'' | *], ''Gyps rueppelli'' | ||
| *] ''Gyps indicus'' | *] ''Gyps indicus'' | ||
| *] ''Gyps himalayensis'' | *] ''Gyps himalayensis'' | ||
Revision as of 17:49, 22 February 2003
Old World vultures belong to the order Accipitriformes, 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 include
- Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
- Griffon vulture Gyps fulvus
- Indian white-rumped vulture, Gyps bengalensis
- Rüppell’s vulture, Gyps rueppelli
- Long-billed vulture Gyps indicus
- Himalayan griffon vulture Gyps himalayensis
- Lappet-faced vulture, Trogos tracheliotus
- Monk vulture or European Black Vulture, Aegypius monachus
- Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
- Palm nut vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
- Hooded vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus