Old World vulture

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/old-world-vulture

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Primarily Family Accipitridae; some related species in Cathartidae (New World)
2. What is the global distribution?Africa, Asia, and Europe, inhabiting diverse terrestrial biomes
3. What do Old World vultures eat?Old World vultures eat leftover food from dead animals, called carrion. They can eat all parts of a carcass, even bone, fur, and feathers.
4. Why do Old World vultures have bald heads?Their bald heads keep them clean by preventing bacteria and parasites from sticking to the feathers when they feed on rotting meat.

Obligate Scavenger: An animal that relies almost exclusively on dead animals for sustenance, lacking the ability to hunt effectively.
Trophic Cascade: Indirect ecological effects that are caused by the removal or addition of a top predator or other keystone species.
Zoonotic Disease: An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.