The vulture is a large, carnivorous bird that is most well known for its scavenging nature. The vulture is one of the few types of bird that is found distributed so widely around the world, as vultures are found on every continent excluding the Antarctic and Australia and the islands that surround it.
Fast Facts about Vultures
1. There are 23 vulture species in the world, and at least one type of vulture is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
2. Vultures only lay one egg every year or so. Because vultures have weak feet and legs, they do not carry prey back to their chicks. Instead, they will gorge at a carcass and regurgitate food from their crop to feed their young.
3. Unlike many raptors, vultures are relatively social and often feed, fly or roost in large flocks. A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt. In flight, a flock of vultures is a kettle, and when the birds are feeding together at a carcass, the group is called a wake.
4. Some cultures use vultures to dispose of human corpses, leaving bodies out on pillars to be fed upon by the vultures. When threatened, vultures vomit to lighten their body weight so they can escape more easily into flight. Vomiting also serves as a defense mechanism to deter predators that may be threatening the birds.
5. All species of vulture are similar in the sense that they scavenge for their food whenever possible rather than killing it themselves. Vultures feed on the remains of dead animals and are never too fussy about what is left. Vultures are known to strip meat, skin and even feathers, leaving only the skeleton of the animal remaining.
6. Vultures have keen eyesight. It is believed they are able to spot a three-foot carcass from four miles away on the open plains.
Also Read:10 Amazing Bird Facts (Hawk)
7. Vultures are able to kill harmful bacteria and viruses with their stomach acids, and halt the potential spread of disease from rotting carcasses.
8. One of the few animals to use tools, Egyptian vultures use rocks to break open ostrich eggs.
9. Despite their appearance, Vultures are harmless creations that only eat dead animals.
10. Vultures have a long life span compared to most other birds; they can live up to 30 years in captivity.
