FAMILY CATHARTIDAE

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

• Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

• Birds (Class Aves)

• New World Vultures (Order Cathartiformes)

• New World Vultures (Family Cathartidae)

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​The family Cathartidae, commonly known as the New World vultures, is a family of large scavenging birds found throughout North, Central, and South America. Members of this family are characterized by their broad wings, strong soaring abilities, featherless or sparsely feathered heads, and highly developed senses used to locate carrion. Unlike most birds of prey, New World vultures are not closely related to hawks, eagles, or Old World vultures, having evolved similar scavenging lifestyles through convergent evolution. Many species, particularly the Turkey Vulture, possess an exceptional sense of smell that allows them to detect dead animals hidden beneath forest canopies. Their diet consists primarily of carrion.