List of Birds of Iowa - New World Vultures

New World Vultures

Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they located carcasses. There are 2 Iowa species

  • Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus (A)
  • Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura

Read more about this topic:  List Of Birds Of Iowa

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