VULTURES
Birds    -     Vertebrates    -     Carnivore
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AN EGYPTIAN VULTURE
VULTURES
  • Are birds of prey and scavengers.
  • Prefer fresh meat but may eat really rotten carcasses and this helps to prevent the spread of diseases from old, rotting corpses.
  • May attack extremely sick, wounded and infirmed animals.
  • Have an excellent sense of sight and smell.
  • There are 23 different species of vultures.
  • Are quite sociable and will often feed, fly or roost in large flocks.
  • Can smell a dead animal from a mile or more away.
  • Have bare heads and often bare necks - this stops parasites and bacteria burrowing into their feathers.
  • Urinate on their legs and feet in order to keep cool on hot days.
  • When threatened, they will vomit to lighten their body weight in order that they can escape danger.
  • Some can eat so much that they are unable to fly.