Vultures

Vultures are scavengers and an important part of any healthy ecosystem. They primarily eat animals that have already died, and they help to remove diseased and decaying matter from the ecosystem. Vultures are not susceptible to mammalian diseases, and because of this, help protect us from illnesses like rabies, anthrax, botulism, and cholera.

New Jersey is home to two vulture species. The Turkey Vulture is a dark brown bird with silver flight feathers and a redhead. Their giant nostril, or nare, helps them to smell better than any bird in the world and to locate food before it starts to rot. Black Vultures are uniformly black. They have lovely matte black feathers and a black head. Their range is expanding due to global climate change, and they are found more and more frequently here in New Jersey. Both species are at home in the air or strutting on the ground. They form strong family bonds, display strong social intelligence, and curiosity about the world around them.