2006-12-22 04:08:13 · 5 answers · asked by Veronica W 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
What do they look like?
2006-12-22 04:59:47 · update #1
In the United States there are 2 species of vultures, Turkey and Black and one species of Condor, California Condor, which is closely related to vultures. All of these birds feed on carrion, that is dead animals.
Turkey and Black Vultures have a very interesting relationship. Turkey Vultures have a very keen sense of smell and find their food by smell. Black Vultures do not have a great sense of smell, but are more sight oriented. If you have both species in the same area you will often see Turkey Vultures circling with Black Vultures circling above them. They will watch for the Turkey Vultures going down to a carcass and follow them. Black Vultures are better at opening the carcass to feed so this relationship benefits both species.
There are other species of vultures in Mexico, Central and South America. Old world vultures, that is in Europe, Asia and Africa are not closely related to our vultures, but serve the same purpose. We would be up to our chins in dead animals if it weren't for vultures. They are extremely beneficial!
2006-12-22 04:55:20 · answer #1 · answered by sngcanary 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are SO many myths about vultures! One of the worst is that they are stupid. Vultures are FAR from stupid. They are actually highly intelligent, mostly because of their curious nature. They nest on the ground, so as soon as the young are big enough, they wander around and explore the world. This poses a problem sometimes, as people find them and think they are lost, and decide to take them home. BAD IDEA.
And ugly? Nah. How do they look? Black Vultures are black all over. Until about the age of three, they have feathers on there heads, but they loose them. It's not as messy that way. Yes they do eat dead animals. They are very helpful keeping the world clean. Believe it or not, they also eat a lot of vegetation. We have a turkey vulture at the facility I work at who LOVES cantalope. Turkey vultures look similar, but have white wing tips and a bright red head. And if you notice that vultures legs look white, they are actually black. What you are seeing is poo. To cool themselves off they just squirt it on their legs...
Turkey Vultures are one of the few birds that have good senses of smell. That's usually how they find their food. Black vultures, in contrast, do not have a great sense of smell. Instead, they usually follow the turkey vultures and being more aggressive, chase them away.
Vultures also have a very unique defense system. They don't have strong feet, because they don't need to kill there food. And yes, they do have strong jaw muscles and vulture bites hurt. Bad. But their best defense system is called Projectile Vomiting. Yep. They shoot their vomit at potential enemies. And trust me, from experience, I know that vulture vomit is one of the worst smells in the world...It's horrible. Never provoke a vulture.
Plus, just because they are circling doesn't mean they found food. They probably just found a great thermal and are enjoying it. Thermals are drafts of warm are that rise in a circular pattern.
I can't really think of anything else right now...They are really cool creatures, and if you can do some real research on them, I suggest you do.
2006-12-22 16:36:06 · answer #2 · answered by Dani 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a lot of people say vultures are ugly but if you ever get a chance to have a close up look at a clean, non covered in gore, vulture, you will find them very attractive, Lammiegers are especially pretty. They are all also incredibly intelligent and quick to learn and can be quite gentle if handled properly. and they are quite comedic too, we used to have a lappet faced vulture called Requiem who used to steal Guinness.
2006-12-22 11:49:20 · answer #3 · answered by Aquila 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Vultures get a bad rap as well their job is gross! They eat dead things. But to stop and actually really think about what they do in their scavanger gross way, its crucial to the eco system. If you never cleaned your room junk would just pile up and stink and be nasty, they in a way are our maids or really rather animal worlds maid.
2006-12-22 04:23:42 · answer #4 · answered by KayAlley 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well they r NOT good pets cuz they r wicked hard 2 train as like a tame animal cuz they r really meant 2 b in the wild!
Also they only eat DEAD animals so u'd have 2 kill its dinner!
2006-12-22 04:13:57 · answer #5 · answered by ride4thepride 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋