The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is the largest vulture species and among the largest flying birds in the world, boasting a wingspan of up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) and weighing up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds). At the other end of the scale, the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is the smallest, with a wingspan of about 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) and weighing only 2 kilograms (4–5 pounds).
About Vultures
Vultures are large birds of prey renowned for their ecological importance as nature’s cleanup crew. Unlike many raptors that actively hunt, vultures primarily feed on carrion, preventing the spread of disease and accelerating nutrient recycling in ecosystems. They are divided into two groups: New World vultures of the Americas, belonging to the family Cathartidae, and Old World vultures of Africa, Europe, and Asia, in the family Accipitridae. Though unrelated, both groups evolved similar traits—a striking example of convergent evolution—to fill the scavenger role.
Physically, vultures are built for efficiency in their niche. They typically have broad wings for soaring on thermals, strong bills to tear flesh, and featherless heads, which reduce contamination while feeding. Their keen eyesight enables them to spot carrion from high above, and in New World species such as the Turkey Vulture, an extraordinary sense of smell further aids in locating food.
Among the most recognized species, the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is widespread across the Americas, easily identified by its red head and graceful, wobbling flight. The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), one of the world’s largest flying birds, symbolizes power and endurance in South American cultures, with wingspans exceeding 3 meters (10 feet). In Africa and Asia, the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is well known for its large colonies and immense soaring ability, while the Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) thrives at some of the world’s highest elevations. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), smaller and more distinctive with a white body and yellow face, is notable for its tool use—cracking open eggs with stones.
Unfortunately, many vulture species face severe declines due to poisoning, habitat loss, and reduced food availability. In South Asia, populations of Indian Vultures collapsed dramatically after exposure to veterinary drugs such as diclofenac, spurring urgent conservation action.
Despite their grim reputation, vultures are vital allies to ecosystems and humans alike, ensuring balance, cleanliness, and resilience in the natural world.
Types of Vultures
Andean Condor
Enormous South American vulture with black plumage and white neck ruff; wingspan over 3 meters, soaring high in Andes, symbolic of power and endurance.
Read MoreBearded Vulture
Striking raptor with narrow wings and wedge tail; feeds mainly on bones, dropping them from heights to crack, earning the name “bone breaker.”
Read MoreBlack Vulture
Stocky scavenger with short tail and bare black head; common in the Americas, aggressive at carcasses, soaring on thermals, highly adaptable to human activity.
Read MoreCalifornia Condor
Critically endangered New World vulture; wingspan nearly 3 meters, black plumage with white underwing patches, successfully bred in western U.S. after near extinction.
Read MoreEgyptian Vulture
Small, white-bodied vulture with yellow face; intelligent, known for tool use like cracking eggs with stones, inhabits Africa, Europe, and Asia, now endangered.
Read MoreEurasian Black Vulture
One of the heaviest raptors; dark plumage, powerful bill, solitary feeder, ranging across Europe and Asia, important scavenger in open steppe and mountains.
Read MoreGriffon Vulture
Large Old World vulture with pale head, long neck, and broad wings; soars in flocks across Europe and Asia, feeding communally on carrion.
Read MoreHimalayan Vulture
Massive high-altitude vulture with pale body and dark flight feathers; adapted to mountains, soaring over Himalayan peaks, feeding on carcasses of livestock and wildlife.
Read MoreHooded Vulture
Small, slender African vulture with pinkish bare head and dark plumage; often seen near villages, opportunistic scavenger feeding on carrion and human refuse.
Read MoreIndian Vulture
Medium-sized vulture with pale plumage and bare yellowish head; once common in S Asia, now critically endangered due to diclofenac poisoning, vital for ecosystem health.
Read MoreKing Vulture
Striking Central and South American vulture with white body, black wings, and vividly colored head; powerful scavenger, often dominant at carcasses over other vultures.
Read MoreLappat-Faced Vulture
Large African vulture with bare, wrinkled pink head and strong beak; dominant at kills, capable of tearing tough hides, crucial in savanna ecosystems.
Read MoreTurkey Vulture
Common New World vulture with red head and dark plumage; excellent sense of smell, soaring with wings in V-shape, widespread across the Americas.
Read MoreWhite-backed Vulture
Medium-sized African vulture with pale back and dark wings; highly social and in large flocks at carcasses, now endangered due to poisoning and habitat loss.
Read MoreFAQ’s
1. What is the largest and smallest vulture species?
2. What is the fastest vulture species?
The Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), native to central Africa, is considered the fastest vulture in level flight. It can reach speeds of over 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) while soaring on thermals. This species also holds the record for the highest flight of any bird, spotted at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 meters) above sea level.
3. What do vultures eat?
Vultures are obligate scavengers, meaning they almost exclusively feed on carrion (dead animals). Their powerful beaks allow them to tear into flesh, while certain species specialize in different parts of a carcass—some strip muscle, others consume hide or bones. By removing decaying remains, vultures prevent the spread of disease and recycle nutrients back into ecosystems.
4. How do vultures reproduce?
Vultures typically form monogamous pairs that mate for life. They nest on cliffs, trees, or sometimes directly on the ground, laying one to two eggs per breeding season.
Both parents share incubation duties and care for the chicks. Young vultures are slow to mature, often taking several months to fledge and years before reaching sexual maturity.
5. What is the difference between a vulture and a condor?
“Condor” refers to two of the largest New World vultures—the Andean Condor and the California Condor. While all condors are vultures, not all vultures are condors. Condors are distinguished by their enormous size, long lifespans (up to 60 years), and cultural significance, especially in the Americas.
In contrast, “vulture” is a broader term covering over 20 species worldwide, both Old World and New World, varying in size and adaptations.