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Taxa

Cathartidae

Bird Families

Cathartidae is the family of New World vultures, a small group of large scavenging birds native to the Americas, including the genus Gymnogyps, whose sole living species is the California condor, and the genus Cathartes, the turkey vultures. Members are recognized by bald heads, adapted for hygiene while feeding on carrion, and by a keen sense of smell, unusual among birds, that several species use to locate carcasses.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
7 1
Geographic Distribution
Western hemisphere, from southern Canada to South America 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Featherless heads and necks 1
Sources
1. New World vulture - Wikipedia
  • Introduction, sentence 1
    are a family of birds of prey
  • Taxonomy and systematics
    The New World vultures comprise seven species in five genera
  • Distribution and habitat
    New World vultures are restricted to the western hemisphere, ranging from southern Canada to South America.
  • Description
    All species have featherless heads and necks.
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