X

The White-tailed Eagle became extinct in Britain in 1918 directly as a result of persecution and illegal killing. However, it was reintroduced in 1975 with the young birds released on the Island of Rum in the Inner Hebrides.

Posted on: by

Every White-headed Vulture has a different pattern on its outer wings, in a similar way to humans all having different fingerprints.

Posted on: by

When threatened, vultures sometimes vomit. This is used to lighten their body weight for an easier getaway.

Posted on: by

In order to cool and disinfect themselves, New World vultures urinate over their legs. This is called urohydrosis.

Posted on: by

The acid in a vulture’s stomach is more acidic than acid rain. This allows vultures to ingest bacteria and even some diseases. Their ability to eat rotting carcasses makes vultures ecologically vital.

Posted on: by

Vultures feed their chicks by eating and then regurgitating food from their crop to their chicks.

Posted on: by

Vultures can locate a dead animal from far away. They use their excellent eyesight to watch other vultures that are looking for dead carcasses too, creating an efficient foraging network across huge areas.

Posted on: by

New World vultures have no voice box (syrinx). The only sounds they can make are hisses and grunts.

Posted on: by

Vultures vary greatly in size. The largest, the Andean Condor, have a wingspan of more than 3 metres. The smallest vulture, the Egyptian Vulture, have a wingspan of just over half of this.

Posted on: by

Ancient Egyptians had two vulture goddesses, Nekhbet and Mut, and both are of great antiquity (c. 6000 years old).

Posted on: by
A member of
A member of
©2024 Hawk Conservancy Trust