Vulture is the name given to two groups of
scavenging birds of prey: the
New World vultures, including the
Californian and
Andean condors; and the
Old World vultures, including the birds that are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead
animals on African plains. Research has shown that some traditional Old World vultures (including the
bearded vulture) are not closely related to the others, which is why the vultures are to be subdivided into three
taxa rather than two. New World vultures are found in North and South America; Old World vultures are found in Europe, Africa and Asia, meaning that between the two groups, vultures are found on every continent except
Australia and
Antarctica.
