The Life of Animals | New World Vulture | Generally these birds are large, ranging in length from the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture at 56-61 centimeters (22-24 in) up to the California and Andean condors, both of the which can reach 120 centimeters (48 in) in length and weigh 12 or more kilograms (26 lb or more). All species have featherless heads and necks. The beak is slightly hooked and is Relatively weak when compared Those of other birds of prey.
Mainly Most species are resident, but the Turkey Vulture Populations breeding in the northern U.S. and Canada migrate south in the northern winter.New World Vultures Inhabit a large variety of habitats and Ecosystems, ranging from deserts to tropical Rainforests and at heights of sea level to mountain ranges, using highly adapted Their sense of smell to locate carrion. The California Condor is critically endangered.
As of October 31, 2009 there were 180 birds in the Andean Condor wild.The is near Threatened. 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 American Black Vulture and the King Vulture Appear in a variety of Maya hieroglyphs in Mayan codices. The King Vulture is one of the most common species of birds represented in the Mayan codices. Its glyph is easily distinguishable by the knob on the bird's beak and by the concentric circles That Represent the bird's eyes. Sometimes it is portrayed as a god with a human body and a bird head.
In Mayan codices, 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 Cleary show the American Black Vulture's open nostril and hooked beak, some are assumed to be this species of Because They are Vulture-like and painted black, but lack the King Vulture's knob.
