Vulturine

Vulturine refers to characteristics or qualities that are similar to or reminiscent of a vulture. The term is often used in ornithology, the study of birds, to describe species or subspecies that exhibit vulture-like features.

Etymology

The term "vulturine" is derived from the Latin word "vultur", meaning vulture, and the suffix "-ine", which is used to form adjectives of belonging or resemblance.

Characteristics

Vulturine characteristics can include physical features such as a bald or nearly bald head, a hooked beak, and broad wings. Behaviorally, vulturine species are often scavengers, feeding primarily on carrion.

Examples

One example of a vulturine species is the Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum), which is named for its vulture-like appearance. Despite its name and appearance, it is not closely related to true vultures, which belong to the families Accipitridae and Cathartidae.

Another example is the Vulturine Parrot (Pyrilia vulturina), a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

See also

• Vulture
• Scavenger (zoology)
• Ornithology