New World vulture
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.
| New World vultures | |
|---|---|
| |
| American black vultures on a cow carcass | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Cathartidae Lafresnaye, 1839 |
| Genera | |
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.
Species
- Genus Coragyps
- Black vulture Coragyps atratus in South America and north to US
- Genus Cathartes
- Turkey vulture Cathartes aura throughout the Americas to southern Canada
- Lesser yellow-headed vulture Cathartes burrovianus in South America and north to Mexico
- Greater yellow-headed vulture Cathartes melambrotus in the Amazon Basin of tropical South America
- Genus Gymnogyps
- California condor Gymnogyps californianus in California. Formerly widespread in the mountains of western North America.[1]
- Genus Vultur
- Andean condor Vultur gryphus in the Andes[2]
- Genus Sarcoramphus
- King vulture Sarcoramphus papa from Southern Mexico to northern Argentina
New World Vulture Media
A pervious nostril is typical of the family
American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus, Farallon, Panama, 2005 December; This individual was one of a large group of vultures (and circling frigatebirds) waiting for fish offal from local fishermen.
Cathartes aura -Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, California, USA -adult-8a
Cathartes burrovianus JJK'1
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus) in flight from below
Gymnogyps californianus -San Diego Zoo-8a
Vultur gryphus -Doué-la-Fontaine Zoo, France-8a
Sarcoramphus papa -National Zoo -Washington -USA-8a
Fossil of the extinct Breagyps clarki
The featherless head of the American black vulture, Coragyps atratus brasiliensis, reduces bacterial growth from eating carrion.
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