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Vultures

vulture

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

vulture common name for large birds of prey of temperate and tropical regions. The Old World vultures (family Accipitridae) are allied to hawks and eagles ; the more ancient American vultures and condors are of a different family (Cathartidae) with distant links to storks and cormorants .

American vultures have no syrinx and are thus voiceless, emitting weak hisses. They feed voraciously and indiscriminately, chiefly on carrion. Because they have weak beaks and lack the strength of other birds of prey, they rarely attack other than helpless animals. Most vultures have dark plumage and small, naked heads. In the adult turkey vulture, or turkey buzzard, Cathartes aura (wingspread 6 ft/1.9 m), the head is red; in the smaller black vulture it is black; and in the tropical king vulture (with cream and black plumage) it is orange, crimson, and purple, with a neck ruff of gray down.

Vultures have keen sight and are effortless soarers, skillful at riding the thermal updrafts of their mountain habitats. They are normally solitary but will gather in crowds to feed. As valuable scavengers they are protected by law. A vulture of the Pleistocene epoch was the largest bird that ever existed, with a wingspread of 16 to 17 ft (4.9–5.1 m).

Vultures are frequently called buzzards , although the name is more correctly applied to hawks of the genus Buteo. Vultures are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Falconiformes, families Cathartidae and Accipitridae.

Bibliography: See study by T. van Dooren (2011).

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vulture

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

vul·ture / ˈvəlchər/ • n. 1. a large bird of prey (order Accipitriformes) with the head and neck more or less bare of feathers, feeding chiefly on carrion. They are classified as Old World vultures (family Accipitridae) and New World vultures (family Cathartidae). 2. a contemptible person who preys on or exploits others. DERIVATIVES: vul·tur·ine / -ˌrīn/ adj. vul·tur·ish adj. vul·tur·ous / -ch(ə)rəs/ adj.

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"vulture." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"vulture." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-vulture.html

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vulture

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

vulture a large bird of prey, feeding chiefly on carrion and reputed to gather with others in anticipation of the death of a sick or injured animal or person; a contemptible person who preys on or exploits others.

Vulture may also be used allusively for something that preys on one's mind, such as a consuming or torturing passion, especially with reference to the punishment inflicted on Tityus.

See also culture vulture.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "vulture." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "vulture." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-vulture.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "vulture." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-vulture.html

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vulture

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Copyright

vulture The king of birds, according to the Hebrews (Lam. 4: 19, where English versions translate ‘eagles’) but considered unclean (Lev. 11: 13). Of the species known in Palestine, probably that referred to by Jesus (Matt. 24: 28), is the griffon vulture, as in Prov. 30: 17, translated ‘eagles’ by AV, but ‘vultures’ in modern translations.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "vulture." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "vulture." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-vulture.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "vulture." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-vulture.html

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vulture

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

vulture Large, keen-sighted, strong-flying bird that feeds on carrion. New World vultures, found throughout the Americas, include the condor, turkey buzzard, and king vulture; family Cathartidae. Old World vultures, related to eagles, are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and include the Egyptian vulture and the griffon vulture; family Accipitridae.
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vultures

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

vultures
1. See FALCONIFORMES
.
2. (New World vultures) See CATHARTIDAE
.
3. (Old World vultures, palm-nut vulture, Gypohierax angolensis) See ACCIPITRIDAE

4. See TERATORNIS INCREDIBILIS.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "vultures." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "vultures." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-vultures.html

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vulture

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

vulture XIV. — AN. vultur, OF. voltour (mod. vautour):- L. vulturius, f. vultur, voltur.
So vulturine XVII. — L.
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T. F. HOAD. "vulture." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "vulture." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-vulture.html

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Vulture Peak

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Vulture Peak (mythical mountain): see NICHIREN.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Vulture Peak." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Vulture Peak." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-VulturePeak.html

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vulture

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

vulture •botcher, gotcha, top-notcher, watcher, wotcha •imposture, posture •firewatcher • birdwatcher •debaucher, scorcher, torture •Boucher, voucher •cloture, encroacher, poacher, reproacher •jointure • moisture •cachucha, future, moocher, smoocher, suture •butcher •kuccha, scutcher, toucher •structure •culture, vulture •conjuncture, juncture, puncture •rupture • sculpture • viniculture •agriculture • sericulture •arboriculture • pisciculture •horticulture • silviculture •subculture • counterculture •aquaculture • acupuncture •substructure • infrastructure •candidature • ligature • judicature •implicature •entablature, tablature •prelature • nomenclature • filature •legislature • musculature •premature • signature • aperture •curvature •lurcher, nurture, percher, searcher

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

VULTURE POPULATION SOARING MORE OF THESE BALD-FACED BIRDS ARE FLYING IN...
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 6/17/2001
Vulture Awareness Day today.
Newspaper article from: The Nation (Karachi, Pakistan); 9/4/2009
Vultures heed birdcall; Feast on cheap stakes in private equity...
Magazine article from: Crain's New York Business; 10/27/2003

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