Interesting Facts about Vultures

• Vultures are relatively silent as they lack a syrinx so they can only hiss, growl, and snarl.

• They are predominantly scavengers but will occasionally kill small animals that are sick or dying. However, they will not eat a carcass that is more than a few days old as it become putrid.

• Bald heads help radiate excess heat away from their bodies and keep rotting flesh from soiling feathers.

• Vultures do not suffer from food poisoning because they have very acidic stomach acids with a pH of almost zero; these acids actually stop the spread of disease.

• Their primary flying style is soaring which allows them to travel great distances expending very little energy.

• A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt. In flight, a group of vultures is a kettle and when feeding at a carcass, the group is referred to as a wake.

• To keep cool, vultures urinate on their legs and feet; this also kills bacteria or parasites and helps to keep the birds healthy.

• Both Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture populations are increasing; increased road traffic results in more available road kill!

• When threatened, Turkey Vultures defend themselves by vomiting very potent stomach acids. This not only acts as a deterrent with predators but also “lightens the load” so they can escape easily into flight.

• Vultures are more closely related to storks than to any other bird of prey.