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Vultures are scavenging birds, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals. Vultures are found in almost every continent.
A particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, devoid of feathers. This is likely because a feathered head would become spattered with blood and other fluids, and thus be difficult to keep clean.
Vultures fall into two groups. The Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, Kites, buzzards and hawks. These are found in Africa, Asia and EuropeFor the band of the same name, see Europe (band . Europe is a continent forming the westermost part of the Eurasian supercontinent. Europe is bounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Se. They find carcasses exclusively by sight.
New World vultureCathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus The New World vulture family Cathartidae contains seven species found in North and South America. It includes five vultures and two condors. New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures or oths and condorVultur gryphus ''Gymnogyps californianus Note that "Condor" is the NATO reporting name for the Russian/Soviet Antonov An-124 transport aircraft. Condor is the name for two species of bird in one of the vulture families. They are the largest flying land bis are not at all closely related to the superficially similar Accipitridae, but belong in the family Cathartidae. They have a good sense of smell, unusual for raptorAccipitriformes Cathartidae Pandionidae Accipitridae Sagittariidae Falconiformes Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. Diurnal birds of prey hunt with their beaks and talonss.The similarities between the two groups are due to convergent evolutionConvergent evolution is an evolutionary process in which organisms not closely related independently acquire some characteristic or characteristics in common. This usually reflects similar responses to similar environmental conditions. Structures that are rather than a close relationship.