Editing Vulture (section)

== Feeding ==

Vultures are [[scavenger]]s, meaning that they eat dead animals. Outside of the oceans, vultures are the only known obligate scavengers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ruxton|first1=Graeme D.|last2=Houston|first2=David C.|date=2004-06-07|title=Obligate vertebrate scavengers must be large soaring fliers|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15135041/|journal=Journal of Theoretical Biology|volume=228|issue=3|pages=431–436|doi=10.1016/j.jtbi.2004.02.005|issn=0022-5193|pmid=15135041|bibcode=2004JThBi.228..431R }}</ref> They rarely attack healthy animals, but may kill the wounded or sick. When a carcass has too thick a hide for its beak to open, it waits for a larger scavenger to eat first.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webvulture.com/vulture-facts.html |title=Fast Vulture Facts |publisher=WebVulture.com |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718015236/http://www.webvulture.com/vulture-facts.html |archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> Vast numbers have been seen upon battlefields. They gorge themselves when prey is abundant, until their [[crop (anatomy)|crops]] bulge, and sit, sleepy or half torpid, to digest their food. These birds do not carry food to their young in their talons but disgorge it from their crops. The mountain-dwelling [[bearded vulture]] is the only vertebrate to specialize in eating bones; it carries bones to the nest for the young, and hunts some live prey.<ref name="buechley"/>

Vultures are of great value as scavengers, especially in hot regions. Vulture [[stomach acid]] is exceptionally corrosive ([[pH]]=1.0<ref name="buechley">{{Cite journal |last1=Buechley |first1=E. R. |last2=Sekercioglu |first2=C. H. |name-list-style=amp |title=Vultures |journal=Current Biology |volume=26 |issue=13 |pages=R560–R561 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2016.01.052 |pmid=27404248 |year=2016 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2016CBio...26.R560B }}</ref>), allowing them to safely digest putrid carcasses infected with [[botulinum toxin]], [[hog cholera]] bacteria, and [[anthrax]] bacteria that would be lethal to other scavengers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-09/968529176.Bc.r.html |title=Re: How come that vultures can resist dangerous toxins when feeding on carcass |last1=Caryl |first1=Jim |date=September 7, 2000 |publisher=MadSci Network |access-date=February 15, 2013}}</ref> and remove these bacteria from the environment. New World vultures often [[vomiting|vomit]] when threatened or approached. Contrary to some accounts, they do not "projectile vomit" on their attacker in defense, but to lighten their stomach load to ease take-off. The vomited meal residue may distract a predator, allowing the bird to escape.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts.html |title=Turkey Vulture Facts |publisher=Turkey Vulture Society |access-date=2012-12-01}}</ref>

In various regions of Africa, the dynamic interplay of vultures and predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals significantly influences the continent's food web. These avian scavengers actively engage in competition with these predatory animals for sustenance, meticulously tracking their hunting activities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-06 |title=Birds That Are Scavengers and Their Importance To The Ecosystem {{!}} STP News |url=https://news.safaritravelplus.com/animals/birds-that-are-scavengers/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Traditionally, vultures are known to bide their time, patiently observing from a distance or high in the sky as predators bring down their prey and commence feeding. Once these formidable predators have satiated their hunger and moved away from their kills, the vultures swoop in, making the most of the leftovers.

New research has revealed that these birds can, in addition to sight, respond to auditory cues indicative of potential foraging opportunities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-20 |title=Vultures respond to auditory cues - AfricanBioServices |url=https://africanbioservices.eu/vultures-respond-to-auditory-cues/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Interaction between vultures and predators is not strictly sequential or one-sided. Vultures, being opportunistic creatures, will often engage in risky behavior if a prime opportunity arises. Sometimes, when the predator numbers are low or distracted, these large birds might move in earlier, attempting to snatch morsels from the kill before the predators have fully vacated the scene. This daring strategy, while high-risk, underscores the fierce competition and survival instincts prevalent in the harsh realities of the African wild.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Food fight: Jackal takes on vultures over a carcass {{!}} Predator vs Prey {{!}} Earth Touch News |url=https://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/predator-vs-prey/food-fight-jackal-takes-on-vultures-over-a-carcass |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Earth Touch News Network |language=en}}</ref>

New World vultures also urinate straight down their legs; the uric acid kills bacteria accumulated from walking through carcasses, and also acts as evaporative cooling.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/vulture-vomit.htm |title= Why is it a bad idea to scare a vulture? |last1=Conger |first1=Cristen |publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]] |access-date=February 15, 2013|date= 2008-10-13 }}</ref>