All vultures have a wide wingspan, which allows them to soar for long periods of time without flapping so much as a feather while looking for carrion (dead or decaying flesh) to eat. The heaviest is Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds). The large crop of a Rueppell’s vulture can hold about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds ) of food, which may be as much as 20% of the bird’s weight. The largest is Himalayan griffon (Gyps himalayensis), up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) tall with a wingspan up to 3.1 meters (10.2 feet). Bare skin in those areas helps the birds stay cleaner when they stick their head into a carcass to feed. 1. 6) Did you know that there is a vulture whose favorite food is fruit? September 14, 2020 Last updated Sep 14, 2020 at 12:43AM by Deww. Life span is from 10 to 50 years, depending on species. 2. We know Thanksgiving usually centered around turkeys. Weighing up to 15 kilograms, the Andean condor uses air currents and thermal air currents (depending on their location) to help keep their heavy bodies in flight. In Turkey, the habit of vultures to urinate on their feet is noted. Fun Facts for Kids. SATURDAY was International Vulture Awareness Day, (vultureday.org) so in case you were not aware of it at the time, here are some vulture facts. 1. Although New World vultures are unable to make more than hissing and grunting sounds, Old World vultures can be quite vocal when feeding at a carcass, making lots of grunts, screeches, croaks, and chatter. Though Turkey Vultures nests in caves, they do not enter them except during the breeding season. Posted on November 1, 2020 October 31, 2020 by admin 0 . Thermal winds help them to achieve altitude and to fly a long period of time without flapping with its wings. But variety is the spice of life, right? Vultures are sociable creatures and are often seen as a collective unit, but the name assigned to a group of vultures all depends on what they are doing at that given time. Here are ten interesting (and yes, kind of gross) facts about Texas turkey vultures: Interesting facts about the bearded vulture. Today I want to write about an unusual bird that has an important role to play in the environment, the turkey vulture. Shara Burger | Wildlife. Here are five interesting facts about them: These large birds have a massive wingspan of almost two metres that enables them to soar high in the air for hours without needing to flap their wings. Interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers. Vultures are, in fact, very hygienic birds and will often gather in a large group around a favorite water hole to drink, bathe, and preen. Vultures are one of the most misunderstood and least appreciated birds in the avian world. 0. European bison sees conservation success, yet 31 other species declared Extinct, Bewick’s swan guide: how to identify, where they are found and why they are rare, Rhino guide: how to identify, where to see and why they’re endangered, Tapir guide: number of species, why babies have spots and stripes, and more, Flamingo guide: how to identify each species and where to see. Vulture clown joke: Two vultures are in a field, eating a dead clown. Both have wingspans that may reach 2.9m. A series of cardio-vascular adaptations means that vultures are able to fly at heights where oxygen levels are at their thinnest, with one particular Ruppell’s griffon vulture reaching almost 11.5 kilometres! – Source. September 19, 2012 Written by Richard. They endure diseases that would kill any other creature. November 11, 2013 by Anne Hay. These rather ugly looking scavengers have received a really bad reputation over the years; however, they play an incredibly vital role in our ecosystem. There are 23 different vulture species altogether, however they are categorised based on whether they are a New World vulture species (found across the Americas and Caribbean) or an Old World vulture species (which are found typically in Africa, Asia, and also Europe).