Vultures are scavenging birds that feed mostly on carrion – the decaying flesh of dead animals. Unlike eagles, hawks, and other raptors, vultures do not actively hunt or kill live prey. Instead, they rely on their keen eyesight and sense of smell to locate carcasses of animals that have died from other causes. Once a vulture spots a carcass, it will circle overhead before descending to feed. Vultures play an important ecological role as nature’s clean-up crew, helping to dispose of dead animals that could otherwise spread disease.
Do vultures hunt live prey?
While vultures occasionally kill small, weak, or vulnerable animals, they do not actively hunt for live prey like hawks or eagles do. Vultures lack the sharp talons and hooked beaks that birds of prey use to stun and kill live animals. Their beaks are designed for tearing rotting flesh from carcasses. And their stomach acid is extremely corrosive, allowing them to digest putrid meat that would sicken other animals. So while vultures may opportunistically kill easy prey, they are anatomically adapted to be scavengers, not hunters.
What types of carrion do vultures eat?
Vultures are not picky when it comes to finding carrion to eat. They have been observed feeding on the carcasses of large mammals like deer, cattle, and horses, as well as smaller mammals like rodents and rabbits. Vultures also eat dead reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even carrion birds like other vultures. Essentially any dead animal is potential food for a vulture. The availability of different types of carrion depends on the vulture’s habitat. In general, vultures in wilderness areas will eat more wild animals, while vultures in agricultural areas will eat more livestock. Their ability to eat rotting flesh and stomach pathogens allows them to take advantage of any carcass they encounter.
Large mammal carrion
Vultures feed heavily on carcasses of large wild mammals like deer, antelope, wild sheep and goats in areas where these animals are common. They also eat dead livestock animals like cattle, horses, donkeys, and buffalo in agricultural regions. Large carcasses provide abundant meat for multiple vultures to share. The tough hide and bones also takes time to decay, allowing the carcass to last for weeks as vultures gradually pick it clean. Large mammal carrion forms a substantial part of most vultures’ diets.
Small mammal carrion
Smaller animal carcasses, like rabbits, rodents, small carnivores, and birds also get scavenged by vultures. These do not offer as much meat as large mammals, but are still an important food source. Vultures often swallow small animal carcasses whole or eat them in a few bites. In some habitats small animals make up the majority of available carrion. Vultures cover wide foraging ranges to find sporadic small animal remains.
Reptile and amphibian carrion
Dead snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs are readily consumed by vultures. Reptile and amphibian carcasses decompose faster than those of mammals and birds, but vultures can still make use of them. In some cases vultures even specialize in eating turtle eggs from nesting sites. Overall, while not a primary food source, reptiles and amphibians supplement the diet of many vulture species.
Fish carrion
Dead fish wash up in large numbers along ocean shorelines, providing an abundant food source for coastal vulture populations. Fish carrion is eaten by turkey vultures along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, yellow-headed vultures in Central America, and palm-nut vultures in Africa. Inland at large lakes, fish carrion can also be seasonally significant for vultures. They may also scavenge scraps at fish processing plants and markets.
Carrion birds
Vultures are one of the few groups that exhibit feeding on other bird carcasses, including other vultures. This helps them take advantage of all carrion sources available. Vultures have tough skin and thick layers of feathers over vulnerable areas that help protect them from the beaks of live birds while they feed. Turkey vultures in particular are known to scavenge feathers for lining their nests.
How do vultures locate carrion?
Vultures have exceptional eyesight and are able to spot potential food sources from impressive distances while in flight. Once a carcass is detected, more vultures are quickly attracted to it. But vultures also rely heavily on their extraordinary sense of smell to find carrion. Unlike most birds, vultures have a large olfactory bulb and tissue in their nostrils that allows them to detect scent particles at levels unmatchable by dogs. By flying low to the ground and sniffing, they can pick up the scent trail of a decaying carcass from over a mile away. Vultures’ combined excellent eyesight and smell lets them quickly exploit any carrion opportunities.
Eyesight adaptations
Vultures have a number of visual adaptations that help them spot carcasses while in flight:
- Large, wide-set eyes located on the sides of the head give them panoramic vision.
- Their eyes are specially-adapted to see well at long distances.
- Unique blood vessel arrangements in their retinas aid in visual clarity.
- Their eyes are set in padded, deep sockets that protect them when feeding.
Sense of smell adaptations
Vultures’ sense of smell is incredible compared to other birds. They have:
- Large olfactory bulbs in their brains dedicated to processing smells.
- Specialized nasal tissue containing millions of scent receptors.
- Narrow, elongated nostrils that facilitate airflow and capture scents.
- Sinuses and beak shape that direct air over scent membranes when breathing and flying.
These adaptations allow vultures to detect even tiny concentrations of gas molecules released by decomposition occurring deep within carcasses.
How do multiple vultures share a carcass?
It is common to see groups of vultures crowding around the same carcass. The birds have evolved a surprisingly cordial system to share this limited resource. After the first few vultures land at a carcass, others progressively join in until it is completely obscured by them. There is a clear dominance hierarchy based primarily on size. The largest, most assertive individuals feed first by displacing others with threatening postures. In between feeding bouts, vultures wait calmly in nearby trees and rotate back in to the carcass as others finish.
Aggression is kept in check by a number of behaviors. Eating vultures spread their wings and elongate their necks in a submissive posture to approaching challengers. Squabbling is quickly broken up by other birds, perhaps to limit injuries from sharp beaks. Vultures may also wait on the periphery until the carcass is picked clean enough for all to access it. Their communal feeding strategy enables the birds to effectively share this limited, rich resource.
Dominance hierarchy
The following dominance hierarchy typically emerges:
- Larger species dominate smaller species.
- Within a species, larger individuals dominate smaller ones.
- Adults dominate juveniles.
The largest vulture species present takes priority when feeding. If many similar-sized individuals are present, they may take turns based on aggressiveness and hunger levels.
Feeding in groups
Vulture Behaviors | Explanation |
---|---|
Spread wings when approached | Signals submission to more dominant birds |
Elongated neck | Also communicates submission |
Ends squabbling quickly | Limits potential injuries from aggression |
Wait on periphery | Allows all access once carcass is opened enough |
Vultures avoid excessive conflict since injuring themselves would lower foraging efficiency. Their cooperative strategy enables a carcass to be fully utilized.
Do vultures ever kill live animals?
While vultures rarely directly kill healthy animals, there are some instances where they have been documented attacking vulnerable live prey:
- Newborn livestock – Baby farm animals like calves are occasionally killed.
- Wounded or sick animals – Vultures concentrate on animals that are weak or disabled.
- Small pets – There are reports of cats and small dogs being attacked.
- Eggs – Turtle eggs are sometimes eaten from nests.
These events are thought to be opportunistic exceptions rather than common vulture hunting behavior. Live prey does not form a routine part of their diet. They do not have the specialized tools and instincts for hunting that hawk and eagle species possess.
Newborn livestock
Turkey vultures have been documented killing and eating newborn livestock, mainly calves, pigs, and sheep. The slimy afterbirth seems to especially attract them. Farmers try to keep vultures from entering calving areas, as they can attack within minutes or even seconds of birth before the mother can bond with her offspring.
Weakened animals
Vultures frequently concentrate on old, sick, and wounded animals that are close to death. This earns them the reputation of sometimes hastening the demise of vulnerable individuals. However, killing healthy adults is rare. They are opportunistically taking advantage of animals already on the brink of dying.
Eggs and small pets
There are occasional reports of turkey vultures raiding turtle and alligator nests to feed on eggs. Small pets under around 15 pounds may potentially get attacked as well, though these events are relatively uncommon. Vultures will not pass up an easy meal from small prey they can easily overpower.
Conclusion
While vultures are mostly scavengers that take advantage of carrion, they are sometimes willing to go after small, weak, or vulnerable live prey as well. However, they lack many of the physical attributes and hunting instincts of true birds of prey. Vultures mainly rely on their sharp vision and sense of smell to locate carrion to feed on. They play an important ecological role by quickly consuming decaying carcasses that could otherwise spread disease. When sharing carcasses, vultures exhibit relatively peaceful communal feeding behaviors that enable them to fully utilize this precious resource.