Vultures

Vultures at Allwetterzoo Münster

Image: Hamsterkiste

Vultures are very large birds. They feed on the bodies of dead animals, often including parts that predators leave behind. Since dead animals are called carrion, vultures are known as scavengers. In this way, they help prevent the decomposition of dead animals from producing dangerous substances that could harm nature.


There are 23 different species of vulture on Earth. One group comprises 16 species that live in Europe, Asia and Africa and are known as Old World vultures. These include, for example, the griffon vulture, cinereous vulture, Egyptian vulture and bearded vulture. In southern Africa, the lappet-faced vulture and Cape vulture are found. Both can weigh up to 8 kilograms. Their wingspans are 2.80 m and 2.50 m, respectively.


New World vultures are found in North and South America. The largest is the Andean condor, with a wingspan that can exceed 3 metres. Depending on the species, vultures weigh between 4 and 12 kilograms. With their broad wings, they can circle in the air for hours, searching for carrion without using much energy. They spot their prey from high above.


Their diet consists almost entirely of animal carcasses. They rarely attack wounded or young animals. Vultures have strong beaks that they use to tear flesh from bones. They have bald heads, which do not get covered in blood and dirt while they feed. Vultures usually nest on cliffs or in tall trees. They build simple nests from branches and usually lay one or two eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.

Find out:

  1. What is carrion?
  2. Why are vultures called scavengers?
  3. What are the vultures found in Europe, Africa and Asia called?
  4. Where are New World vultures found?
  5. Which species, for example, belong to the Old World vultures?
  6. Which bird is the largest New World vulture?
  7. What wingspan does this bird reach?
  8. How heavy do vultures get?
  9. Why is it an advantage for vultures to have bald heads?
  10. Where do vultures nest?

Head of a griffon vulture

Image: Hamsterkiste

A cinereous vulture at Friedrichsfelde Zoo in Berlin

Image: public domain

This bird is called a secretarybird. It is not a vulture, but it lives with the vultures at Münster Zoo.

Image: Hamsterkiste