Editing New World vulture

{{short description|Family of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = New World vultures
| fossil_range = [[Paleocene]] – [[Holocene]], {{fossilrange|64.5|0}}
| image = Urubu a tete rouge - Turkey Vulture.jpg
| image_caption = [[Turkey vulture]]
| image_alt = Large black bird with red, unfeathered head, perched on a rock and sitting looking to right of cameraman
| taxon = Cathartidae
| authority = [[Frédéric de Lafresnaye|Lafresnaye]], 1839
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = ''[[Cathartes]]''<br />
''[[Coragyps]]''<br />
''[[Gymnogyps]]''<br />
''[[Sarcoramphus]]''<br />
''[[Vultur]]''
| range_map = Turkeyvulturerange.jpg
| range_map_caption = '''Approximate Cathartidae range map'''<br />
{{leftlegend|#FFFE01|Summer-only range of turkey vulture&nbsp;|outline=gray}}{{leftlegend|#008001|At least one species present year-round|outline=gray}}
| synonyms = * Vulturidae <small>Illiger, 1811</small>
}}

'''Cathartidae''', known commonly as '''New World vultures''' or '''condors''', are a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[birds of prey]] consisting of seven extant [[species]] in five [[genus|genera]]. It includes five extant [[vulture]]s and two extant [[condor]]s found in the [[Americas]]. They are known as "New World" vultures to distinguish them from [[Old World vulture]]s, with which the Cathartidae does not form a single [[clade]] despite the two being similar in appearance and behavior as a result of [[convergent evolution]].

Like other [[vultures]], New World vultures are [[scavenger]]s, having evolved to feed off of the [[wikt:carcass|carcass]]es of dead animals without any notable ill effects. Some species of New World vulture have a good sense of smell, whereas Old World vultures find carcasses exclusively by sight. Other adaptations shared by both Old and New World vultures include a bald [[head (anatomy)|head]], devoid of [[feather]]s which helps prevent rotting matter from accumulating while feeding, and an extremely disease-resistant digestive system to protect against dangerous pathogens found in decaying meat.

==Taxonomy and systematics==
[[File:VultureBeak.png|thumb|left|alt=Sketch of head showing an unobstructed view through the nostrils|A pervious nostril is typical of the family.]]

The family Cathartidae was introduced (as the subfamily Cathartinae) by the French ornithologist [[Frédéric de Lafresnaye]] in 1839.<ref>{{ cite journal | last=de Lafresnaye | first=Frédéric | author-link=Frédéric de Lafresnaye | date=1839 | title=Nouvelle classification des oiseaux de proie ou rapaces | language=French | journal=Revue Zoologique | volume=2 | pages=193–196 [194] | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2299399 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Bock | first=Walter J. | year=1994 | title=History and Nomenclature of Avian Family-Group Names | series=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History | volume= 222 | publisher=American Museum of Natural History | location=New York | pages=112, 234 | hdl=2246/830 | url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/830 }}<!--Linked page allows download of the 48MB pdf--></ref> The New World vultures comprise seven species in five genera, being ''[[Coragyps]]'', ''[[Cathartes]]'', ''[[Gymnogyps]]'', ''[[Sarcoramphus]]'', and ''[[Vultur]]''. Of these, only ''Cathartes'' is not [[monotypic]].<ref name =Myers>Myers (2008)</ref> The family's scientific name, Cathartidae, comes from ''cathartes'', Greek for "purifier".<ref name = chambers>Brookes (2006)</ref> Although New World vultures and [[Old World vulture]]s are not very closely related, they share many resemblances because of [[convergent evolution]].<ref>Phillips (2000)</ref> Phylogenetic analyses including all Cathartidae species found two primary clades. The first consists of black vultures (''Coragyps atratus'') together with the three ''Cathartes'' species (lesser yellow-headed vultures ''(C. burrovianus)'', greater yellow-headed ''vultures (C. melambrotus)'', and turkey vultures (''C. aura)''), while the second consists of king vultures (''Sarcoramphus papa''), California condors (''Gymnogyps californianus'') and Andean condors (''Vultur gryphus'').<ref>Johnson "et al." 2013</ref>

[[New World]] vultures were traditionally placed in a family of their own in the Falconiformes.<ref name="Sibley and Ahlquist 1991">Sibley and Ahlquist (1991)</ref> However, in the late 20th century some ornithologists argued that they are more closely related to [[stork]]s on the basis of [[karyotype]],<ref>de Boer (1975)</ref> morphological,<ref>Ligon (1967)</ref> and behavioral<ref>König (1982)</ref> data.<!-- references to check: König (1982), Rea (1983), Sibley and Ahlquist (1990), Harshman (1994) --> Thus some authorities placed them in the [[Ciconiiformes]] with storks and [[heron]]s; Sibley and Monroe (1990) even considered them a subfamily of the storks. This was criticized,<ref>Griffiths (1994)</ref><ref>Fain & Houde (2004)</ref> and an early DNA sequence study<ref>Avise (1994)</ref> was based on erroneous data and subsequently retracted.<ref>Brown (2009)</ref><ref>Cracraft ''et al.'' (2004)</ref><ref>Gibb ''et al.'' (2007)</ref> There was then an attempt to raise the New World vultures to the rank of an independent order, [[Cathartiformes]], not closely associated with either the birds of prey or the storks and herons.<ref>Ericson ''et al.'' (2006)</ref>

Recent multi-locus DNA studies on the evolutionary relationships between bird groups<ref name="Jarvis2014"/><ref name="Hackett et al 2008">Hackett ''et al.'' (2008)</ref> indicate that New World vultures are related to the other birds of prey, excluding the Falconidae. This analysis argues that New World vultures should either be a part of a new order [[Accipitriformes]]<ref name="Hackett et al 2008" /> or part of an order (Cathartiformes) closely related to, but distinct from, other birds of prey.<ref name="Jarvis2014"/> New World vultures are a [[sister group]] to Accipitriformes,<ref name="Jarvis2014"/> a group consisting of Accipitridae, the [[osprey]] and [[secretarybird]].<ref name = "Griffiths2007">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.03971.x| title = Phylogeny, diversity, and classification of the Accipitridae based on DNA sequences of the RAG-1 exon| journal = Journal of Avian Biology| volume = 38| issue = 5| pages = 587–602| date = 2007-11-06| last1 = Griffiths | first1 = C. S. | last2 = Barrowclough | first2 = G. F. | last3 = Groth | first3 = J. G. | last4 = Mertz | first4 = L. A. }}</ref> Both groups are [[basal (phylogeny)|basal]] members of the recently recognized clade [[Afroaves]].<ref name = "Jarvis2014">{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1126/science.1253451| pmid = 25504713| url = https://pgl.soe.ucsc.edu/jarvis14.pdf| title = Whole-genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds| journal = Science| volume = 346| issue = 6215| pages = 1320–1331| date = 2014| last1 = Jarvis| first1 = E. D.| author1-link = Erich Jarvis| last2 = Mirarab| first2 = S.| last3 = Aberer| first3 = A. J.| last4 = Li| first4 = B.| last5 = Houde| first5 = P.| last6 = Li| first6 = C.| last7 = Ho| first7 = S. Y. W.| last8 = Faircloth| first8 = B. C.| last9 = Nabholz| first9 = B.| last10 = Howard| first10 = J. T.| last11 = Suh| first11 = A.| last12 = Weber| first12 = C. C.| last13 = Da Fonseca| first13 = R. R.| last14 = Li| first14 = J.| last15 = Zhang| first15 = F.| last16 = Li| first16 = H.| last17 = Zhou| first17 = L.| last18 = Narula| first18 = N.| last19 = Liu| first19 = L.| last20 = Ganapathy| first20 = G.| last21 = Boussau| first21 = B.| last22 = Bayzid| first22 = M. S.| last23 = Zavidovych| first23 = V.| last24 = Subramanian| first24 = S.| last25 = Gabaldon| first25 = T.| last26 = Capella-Gutierrez| first26 = S.| last27 = Huerta-Cepas| first27 = J.| last28 = Rekepalli| first28 = B.| last29 = Munch| first29 = K.| last30 = Schierup| first30 = M.| display-authors = 29| pmc = 4405904| bibcode = 2014Sci...346.1320J| hdl = 10072/67425| access-date = 2015-08-28| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150224020622/http://pgl.soe.ucsc.edu/jarvis14.pdf| archive-date = 2015-02-24| url-status = dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="6" style="background-color: #D3D3A4" align="center" |''[[Cathartidae]]'' extant species
|-
! Genus
! Common and binomial names
! class="unsortable"| Image
! Range
!Population estimate
!Conservation status
|-
! rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Coragyps]]'' {{small|Le Maout, 1853}}
| [[Black vulture]]<br>''Coragyps atratus''<br />
| [[File:Coragyps-atratus-001.jpg|120px]]
| South America and north to US
|
|[[Least-concern species|Least concern]]
|-
! rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Cathartes]]'' {{small|Illiger, 1811}}
| [[Turkey vulture]]<br>''Cathartes aura''<br />
| [[File:Cathartes aura -Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, California, USA -adult-8a.jpg|120px]]
| Throughout the Americas to southern Canada
|
|[[Least-concern species|Least concern]]
|-
| [[Lesser yellow-headed vulture]]<br>''Cathartes burrovianus''<br />
| [[File:Cathartes burrovianus JJK'1.jpg|120px]]
| South America and north to Mexico
|'''500,000-4,999,999'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite iucn |last=IUCN |date=2019-12-03 |title=Cathartes burrovianus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22697630A163511443 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697630/163511443 |language=en |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2021-3.rlts.t22697630a163511443.en|doi-access=free }}</ref> mature individuals 
|[[Least-concern species|Least concern]]
|-
| [[Greater yellow-headed vulture]]<br>''Cathartes melambrotus''<br />
| [[File:Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus) in flight from below.jpg|120px]]
| [[Amazon Basin]] of tropical South America
|
|[[Least-concern species|Least concern]]
|-
! rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Gymnogyps]]'' {{small|Lesson, 1842}}
| [[California condor]]<br>''Gymnogyps californianus''<br />
| [[File:Gymnogyps californianus -San Diego Zoo-8a.jpg|120px]]
| California and parts of northern Arizona, formerly widespread throughout the mountain ranges of Western North America
|'''201''',<ref name=":0">{{Cite iucn |last=IUCN |date=2020-08-28 |title=Gymnogyps californianus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22697636A181151405 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697636/181151405 |language=en |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-3.rlts.t22697636a181151405.en|doi-access=free }}</ref> of which approximately 93 mature individuals
|[[Critically Endangered|Critically endangered]]
|-
! rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Vultur]]'' {{small|Linnaeus, 1758}}
| [[Andean condor]]<br>''Vultur gryphus''<br />
| [[File:Vultur gryphus -Doué-la-Fontaine Zoo, France-8a.jpg|120px]]
| [[Andes]]<ref name = BLI/>
|Maximum estimate: '''10,000'''<ref name=":2">{{Cite iucn |last=IUCN |date=2020-08-10 |title=Vultur gryphus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22697641A181325230 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697641/181325230 |language=en |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2020-3.rlts.t22697641a181325230.en |s2cid=241274385|doi-access=free }}</ref>
|[[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]]
|-
! rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Sarcoramphus]]'' {{small|Duméril, 1805}}
| [[King vulture]]<br>''Sarcoramphus papa''<br />
| [[File:Sarcoramphus papa -National Zoo -Washington -USA-8a.jpg|120px]]
| Southern Mexico to northern Argentina
|'''10,000-100,000'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite iucn |last=IUCN |date=2016-10-01 |title=Sarcoramphus papa: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22697645A93627003 |url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697645/0 |language=en |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22697645a93627003.en|doi-access=free }}</ref> 
|[[Least-concern species|Least concern]]
|}

===Extinct species and fossils===
The fossil history of the Cathartidae is complex, and many taxa that may possibly have been New World vultures have at some stage been treated as early representatives of the family.<ref>Mayr (2006)</ref> There is no unequivocal European record from the [[Neogene]].
[[Image:Breagyps clarki.jpg|thumb|upright|Fossil of the extinct ''[[Breagyps|Breagyps clarki]]'']]
It is clear that the Cathartidae had a much higher diversity in the [[Plio-Pleistocene]], rivalling the current diversity of Old World vultures and their relatives in shapes, sizes, and ecological niches. Extinct taxa include:

* ''[[Diatropornis]]'' ("European vulture") Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – ?Middle Oligocene of France<ref name = emslie>Emslie (1988)</ref>
* ''[[Phasmagyps]]'' [[Chadronian]] of [[Colorado]]<ref name = emslie/><ref name="Wetmore1927">{{cite journal |last1=Wetmore |first1=A. |year=1927 |title=Fossil Birds from the Oligocene of Colorado |journal= Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=1–14 |url=http://www.dmns.org/media/370630/pseries1,v7,n2.pdf}}</ref>
* Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. Late Oligocene of Mongolia<ref name = emslie/>
* ''[[Brasilogyps]]'' Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of Brazil<ref name = emslie/>
* ''[[Hadrogyps]]'' ("American dwarf vulture") Middle Miocene of SW North America<ref name = emslie/>
* Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, USA<ref name = stucchi/>
* ''[[Pliogyps]]'' ("Miocene vulture") Late Miocene – Late Pliocene of S North America<ref name = emslie/>
* ''[[:es:Perugyps diazi|Perugyps]]'' ("Peruvian vulture") Pisco Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of SC Peru<ref name = stucchi/>
* ''[[Dryornis]]'' ("Argentinean vulture") Early – Late? Pliocene of Argentina; may belong to modern genus ''Vultur''<ref name = emslie/>
* Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. Middle Pliocene of Argentina<ref name = stucchi>Stucchi (2005)</ref>
* ''[[Aizenogyps]]'' ("South American vulture") Late Pliocene of SE North America<ref name = emslie/>
* ''[[Breagyps]]'' ("long-legged vulture") Late Pleistocene of SW North America<ref name = emslie/>
* ''[[Geronogyps]]'' Late Pleistocene of Argentina and Peru<ref name = emslie/>
* ''[[Gymnogyps varonai]]'' Late Quaternary of Cuba<ref name="Suárez2003">Suárez (2003)</ref>
* ''[[Wingegyps]]'' Late Pleistocene of Brazil<ref>Alvarenga (2004).</ref>
* ''[[Pleistovultur]]'' Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene of Brazil<ref>Alvarenga et al. (2008).</ref>
* Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. Cuba<ref name = suarez>Suarez (2004)</ref>
*''[[Gymnogyps amplus]]'' Late Pleistocene – Holocene of W North America<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Steverson|first1=Valerie J.|last2=Prothero|first2=Donald R.|date=2010|title=Evolutionary Patterns in Late Quaternary California Condors|url=http://www.donaldprothero.com/files/92367861.pdf|journal=PalArch's Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology}}</ref>

* ''[[Kuntur cardenasi]]'' <small>(Stucchi et al. 2015)</small><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stucchi |first=Marcelo |first2=Emslie ,Steven D. |first3=Varas-Malca ,Rafael M. |last4=and Urbina-Schmitt |first4=Mario |date=2015-09-03 |title=A new late Miocene condor (Aves, Cathartidae) from Peru and the origin of South American Condors |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2015.972507 |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=35 |issue=5 |pages=e972507 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2015.972507 |issn=0272-4634}}</ref>

==Description==
[[Image:Coragyps-atratus-002.jpg|thumb|alt=Naked head with long beak|The featherless head of the American black vulture, ''Coragyps atratus brasiliensis'', reduces bacterial growth from eating carrion.]]
New World vultures are generally large, ranging in length from the lesser yellow-headed vulture at 56–61&nbsp;centimeters (22–24&nbsp;inches) up to the California and Andean condors, both of which can reach 120&nbsp;centimeters (48&nbsp;inches) in length and weigh 12 or more kilograms (26 or more&nbsp;pounds). Plumage is predominantly black or brown, and is sometimes marked with white. All species have featherless heads and necks.<ref name="Zim:2001">Zim ''et al.'' (2001)</ref> In some, this skin is brightly colored, and in the king vulture it is developed into colorful wattles and outgrowths.

All New World vultures have long, broad wings and a stiff tail, suitable for soaring.<ref>Reed (1914)</ref> They are the best adapted to soaring of all land birds.<ref name="Ryser:1985-p211">Ryser & Ryser (1985)</ref> The feet are clawed but weak and not adapted to grasping.<ref name="Krabbe:1990-p88">Krabbe (1990)</ref> The front toes are long with small webs at their bases.<ref name="Feduccia">Feduccia (1999)</ref> No New World vulture possesses a [[syrinx (biology)|syrinx]],<ref name =kemp>Kemp and Newton (2003)</ref> the vocal organ of birds. Therefore, the voice is limited to infrequent grunts and hisses.<ref name="Howell-and-Webb:1995">Howell and Webb (1995)</ref>

The beak is slightly hooked and is relatively weak compared with those of other birds of prey.<ref name="Krabbe:1990-p88" /> This is because it is adapted to tear the weak flesh of partially rotted carrion, rather than fresh meat.<ref name="Ryser:1985-p211" /> The nostrils are oval and set in a soft [[cere]].<ref name="Terres:1991-p957">Terres (1991)</ref> The nasal passage is ''perforate'', not divided by a [[nasal septum|septum]], so that when looking from the side, one can see through the beak.<ref>Allaby (1992)</ref> The eyes are prominent, and, unlike those of eagles, hawks, and falcons, they are not shaded by a brow bone.<ref name="Terres:1991-p957" /> Members of ''Coragyps'' and ''Cathartes'' have a single incomplete row of eyelashes on the upper lid and two rows on the lower lid, while ''Gymnogyps'', ''Vultur'', and ''Sarcoramphus'' lack eyelashes altogether.<ref>Fisher (1942)</ref>

New World vultures have the unusual habit of [[urohidrosis]], or defecating on their legs to cool them [[evaporative cooling|evaporatively]]. As this behavior is also present in storks, it is one of the arguments for a close relationship between the two groups.<ref name="Sibley and Ahlquist 1991"/>

== Distribution and habitat ==
[[File:Andean Condor skeleton.jpg|thumb|Andean condor skeleton ([[Museum of Osteology]])]]

New World vultures are restricted to the western hemisphere, ranging from southern Canada to South America.<ref name="CBOTW">Harris (2009)</ref> Most species are mainly resident, but the turkey vulture breeds in Canada and the northern US and [[bird migration|migrates]] south in the northern winter.<ref name= farmer>Farmer (2008)</ref> New World vultures inhabit a large variety of habitats and ecosystems, ranging from [[desert]]s to [[tropical rainforest]]s and at heights of sea level to mountain ranges,<ref name="CBOTW" /> using their highly adapted sense of smell to locate carrion. These species of birds are also occasionally seen in human settlements, perhaps emerging to feed upon the food sources provided from roadkills.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

==Behavior and ecology==
=== Breeding ===
New World vultures and condors do not build nests, but lay eggs on bare surfaces. On average one to three eggs are laid, depending on the species.<ref name="Zim:2001" /> Chicks are naked on hatching and later grow [[down feather|down]]. Like most birds, the parents feed the young by [[Regurgitation (digestion)|regurgitation]].<ref name="Terres:1991-p957" /> The young are [[altricial]], fledging in 2 to 3 months.<ref name="Howell-and-Webb:1995" /> California Condor chicks fledge anywhere from 5–6 months, while Andean condor chicks fledge anywhere from 6–10 months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Andean Condor {{!}} The Peregrine Fund|url=https://peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/vultures/andean-condor|access-date=2020-09-29|website=peregrinefund.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gymnogyps californianus|url=https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/gyca/all.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=www.fs.fed.us}}</ref>

=== Feeding ===
[[File:King vulture and black vultures feeding.jpg|thumb|[[King vulture]] and [[American black vulture]]s feeding on a carcass]]

All living species of New World vultures and condors are [[scavenger]]s. Their diet consists primarily of [[carrion]], and they are commonly seen near carcasses. Other additions to the diet include fruit (especially rotten fruit) and garbage. The genus ''Cathartes'' locates carrion by detecting the scent of [[Ethanethiol|ethyl mercaptan]], a gas produced by the bodies of decaying animals. The [[Olfaction|olfactory lobe]] of the [[brain]]s in these species, which is responsible for processing smells, is particularly large compared to that of other animals.<ref>Snyder (2006)</ref> Other species, such as the American black vulture and the king vulture, have weak senses of smell and find food only by sight, sometimes by following ''Cathartes'' vultures and other scavengers.<ref name =kemp/>

===Tolerance to bacterial toxins in decaying meat===
Vultures possess a very acidic digestive system, with their gut dominated by two species of anaerobic bacteria that help them withstand [[toxin]]s present in decaying prey.<ref name=reuters>{{cite news|author1=Will Dunham|title=Gut check: how vultures dine on rotting flesh, and like it|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-vultures-idUSKCN0J91YZ20141126|access-date=27 November 2014|work=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|date=26 November 2014}}</ref> In a 2014 study of 50 (turkey and black) vultures, researchers analyzed the microbial community or [[microbiome]] of the facial skin and the large intestine.<ref name=Roggen>{{cite journal|author1=Michael Roggenbuck|author2=Ida Bærholm Schnell|author3=Nikolaj Blom|title=The microbiome of New World vultures|journal=Nature Communications|date=25 November 2014|volume=5|issue=5498 |pages=5498|doi=10.1038/ncomms6498|pmid=25423494|display-authors=etal|bibcode=2014NatCo...5.5498R|doi-access=free}}</ref> The facial bacterial flora and the gut flora overlapped somewhat, but in general, the facial flora was much more [[biodiversity|diverse]] than the gut flora, which is in contrast to other vertebrates, where the gut flora is more diverse. Two [[anaerobic organism|anaerobic]] faecal bacteria groups that are pathogenic in other vertebrates stood out: [[Clostridia]] and [[Fusobacteriota]] (formerly Fusobacteria). They were especially common in the gut with Clostridia [[DNA sequence]] counts between 26% and 85% relative to total sequence counts, and Fusobacteriota between 0.2% and 54% in black vultures and 2% to 69% of all counts in turkey vultures. Unexpectedly, both groups of anaerobic bacteria were also found on the air-exposed facial skin samples, with Clostridia at 7%&ndash;40% and Fusobacteriota up to 23%. It is assumed that vultures acquire them when they insert their heads into the body cavities of rotten meat. The regularly ingested Clostridia and Fusobacteriota outcompete other bacterial groups in the gut and become predominant. Genes that encode tissue-degrading enzymes and toxins that are associated with ''[[Clostridium perfringens]]'' have been found in the vulture gut [[metagenome]]. This supports the hypothesis that vultures do benefit from the bacterial breakdown of carrion, while at the same time tolerating the bacterial toxins.<ref name=Roggen/>

==Status and conservation==
The California condor is [[critically endangered]]. It formerly ranged from Baja California to British Columbia, but by 1937 was restricted to California.<ref name="BirdLife-Int:2006">BirdLife International (2009a)</ref> In 1987, all surviving birds were removed from the wild into a captive breeding program to ensure the species' survival.<ref name="BirdLife-Int:2006" /> In 2005, there were 127 Californian condors in the wild. As of October 31, 2009 there were 180 birds in the wild.<ref>{{cite web| title= San Diego Zoo's Animal Bytes: California Condor| publisher= The Zoological Society of San Diego's Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species| url = http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-condor.html| access-date= 2009-12-29 }}</ref> The Andean condor is [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]].<ref name = BLI>BirdLife International (2020)</ref>
The American black vulture, turkey vulture, lesser yellow-headed vulture, and greater yellow-headed vulture are listed as species of Least Concern by the [[IUCN Red List]]. The king vulture is also listed as Least Concern, although there is evidence of a decline in the population.<ref>BirdLife International (2001)</ref>

==In culture==
The American black vulture and the [[king vulture]] appear in a variety of [[Maya civilization|Maya]] hieroglyphs in [[Mayan codices]]. The king vulture is commonly represented, with its [[glyph]] being easily distinguishable by the knob on the bird's beak and by the concentric circles that represent the bird's eyes.<ref name="Tozzer:1910">Tozzer (1910)</ref> It is sometimes portrayed as a god with a human body and a bird head.<ref name="Tozzer:1910" /> According to Mayan mythology, this god often carried messages between humans and the other gods. It is also used to represent Cozcaquauhtli, the thirteenth day of the month in the [[Mayan calendar]].<ref name="Tozzer:1910" /> Meanwhile, the American black vulture is normally connected with death or shown as a bird of prey, and its glyph is often depicted attacking humans. This species lacks the religious connections that the king vulture has. While some of the glyphs clearly show the American black vulture's open nostril and hooked beak, some are assumed to be this species because they are vulture-like, painted black, and lack the king vulture's knob.<ref name="Tozzer:1910" />

==See also==
*[[Old World vultures]]
*[[Teratornithidae]]
*[[Thunderbird (cryptozoology)]]
*{{C|Birds of prey}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
{{refbegin|colwidth=30em}}
* Allaby, Michael (1992). ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Zoology''. Oxford: Oxford University Press {{ISBN|0-19-286093-3}}, p.&nbsp;348
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{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/new-world-vultures-cathartidae New World Vulture videos, photos and sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141227030437/http://beautyofbirds.com/vulturesnewworld.html New World Vulture photos] on beautyofbirds.com
{{Commons category|position=left|Cathartidae|<br>Cathartidae<br>(New World vultures)}}

{{Vultures}}
{{Accipitriformes}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q184858}}

[[Category:New World vultures| ]]
[[Category:Cathartidae|.]]
[[Category:Vultures|.]]
[[Category:Birds of prey of the Americas| ]]
[[Category:Extant Eocene first appearances]]
[[Category:Eocene birds]]
[[Category:Eocene birds of North America]]
[[Category:Eocene birds of South America]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Frédéric de Lafresnaye]]