New World vulture

New World vultures
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Cathartidae
Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus

The New World vulture family Cathartidae contains seven species found in North and South America. It includes five vultures and two condors.

New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures or other diurnal raptors, which are often classified in different orders. They resemble Old World vulture because of convergent evolution.

The five species of vulture are:

• Turkey Vulture Cathartes Aura
• Greater Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes melambrotus
• Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus
• King Vulture Sarcorhamphus papa
• American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

The Condors are

• Californian Condor Gymnogyps californianus
• Andean Condor Sarcorhamphus gryphus

There is some debate over the scientific names of the Condors.\n