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The vulture in history -

The vulture is one of the planet's most important bird species. These huge birds of prey scavenge on carrion, and do an excellent job of keeping the environment free of decay and disease. In antiquity, the species was depicted in divine iconography. But the bird has also been misrepresented throughout history as a creature associated with evil and wrongdoing.

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The vulture in myth and legend -

This hieroglyphic image of a vulture is a manifestation of the goddesses Mut and Nekhbet. The bird is often seen as a representation of kingship. This relief dates back to the reigns of Ptolemy III and XII, around 246–51 BCE.

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Venerated -

Ceramic vessels in the form of animal effigies were made in large numbers in many parts of Mexico throughout the pre-Columbian era. Often used in ceremonies, the animals selected for depiction were those that played a role in myth. Among these was the vulture, seen as an extraordinary being and depicted here in the form of a jug or container, crafted anywhere between 1200 and 1521.

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The vulture in art -

This splendid gold pectoral ornament in the form of a king vulture, identified by the wattle on top of its beak, was unearthed in Veraguas province in central Panama. The piece dates back to the year 1000.

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Decorative bird -

The king vulture is again the subject of decorative art. In this example, the bird is seen crafted from rare German Meissen porcelain, a piece dated back to 1734.

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Condor Legion -

It was German aircraft from the infamous Condor Legion that bombed Guernica on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. A logo of the bird is seen on the side of this Heinkel bomber, again misrepresented as a creature to be feared.

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The vulture used as propaganda -

The vulture has traditionally been perceived as representing all that is bad in society. Here, a WWII Red Army propaganda poster declares: "The fascist vulture found out that we are not sheep!"

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The reality -

The reality, however, is that vultures and their condor cousins number some of the most important birds on the planet. They also rank among the most skilled and graceful flyers of the bird world. A group of vultures in flight is called a "kettle," and are often seen spiraling high above the earth.

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Himalayan vulture -

One of the largest Old World vultures and true raptors, the Himalayan vulture is native to the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau.

IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened

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Cinereous vulture -

Distributed throughout much of temperate Eurasia, the cinereous vulture is another among the largest Old World vulture species.

IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened

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Griffon vulture -

This large Old World vulture is found across southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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White-rumped vulture -

Native to South and Southeast Asia, the white-rumped vulture, an Old World species, is one of the rarest vultures in the world.

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Rüppell's vulture -

Mainly native to the Sahel region of Burkina Faso and East Africa, Rüppell's vulture is another extremely rare Old World species. On November 29, 1973, a Rüppell's vulture was in collision with a commercial aircraft at 11,277 m (37,000 ft), making this species the highest-flying bird ever recorded.

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Indian vulture -

An Old World vulture native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal, the Indian vulture has suffered a serious decline in numbers since 2002. 

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Slender-billed vulture -

Similarly, the slender-billed vulture, an Old World species native to sub-Himalayan regions and Southeast Asia, is in very real danger of disappearing. According to the IUCN, just 870 mature individuals are thought to remain. 

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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White-backed vulture -

Despite being the most widespread and common vulture in Africa, the white-backed vulture—an Old World species—is still in peril as its numbers decline exponentially.

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Cape vulture -

Native to southern Africa, the Cape vulture is another massive bird, in fact the third largest Old World vulture after the Himalayan vulture and the cinereous vulture.

IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable

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Hooded vulture -

A small Old World species distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, the hooded vulture maintains a foothold in the western region of The Gambia. 

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Red-headed vulture -

The Indian subcontinent, plus small pockets of Southeast Asia, is where the red-headed vulture calls home. This Old World species has come dangerously close to extinction.

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Lappet-faced vulture -

And Old World species endemic across Africa, with a subspecies found on the Arabian Peninsula, the lappet-faced vulture is an enormous bird, ranking as the longest and largest winged vulture in its specific range.

IUCN Red List status: Endangered

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White-headed vulture -

An Old World species endemic to Africa, the white-headed vulture population is struggling due to years of habitat degradation. 

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Bearded vulture -

Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Tibet are the realms of the bearded vulture, traditionally considered an Old World species. 

IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened

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Egyptian vulture -

Besides North Africa, the Egyptian vulture, an Old World species, is distributed across the Iberian Peninsula all the way to India.

IUCN Red List status: Endangered

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Palm-nut vulture -

An Old World species common across sub-Saharan Africa, the palm-nut vulture is so named for its penchant for the fleshy fruit-husks of the oil palm and palm-fruits of the Raffia palm—highly unusual feeding habits for a bird of prey.

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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Black vulture -

A New World vulture whose range extends from the northeastern United States to Peru, central Chile, and Uruguay in South America, the black vulture is a common and widespread species.

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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Turkey vulture -

The most widespread of the New World vultures with a distribution that encompasses the entire South American continent, Central America, Mexico, and the southern half of the United States, the turkey vulture is also known as the turkey buzzard in North America. 

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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Lesser yellow-headed vulture -

The lesser yellow-headed vulture is a New World species found across Mexico, Central America, and South America.

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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Greater yellow-headed vulture -

South America is home to the greater yellow-headed vulture.

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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King vulture -

The king vulture is noted for its striking skin color of yellow, orange, blue, purple, and red, making this New World species one of the most handsome of its kind. It's distributed from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.

IUCN Red List status: Least Concern

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California condor -

The largest North American land bird, the California condor actually became extinct in the wild in 1987 before its successful reintroduction to northern Arizona and southern Utah. But this New World species still just numbers 504 examples in the wild.

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered

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Andean condor -

This iconic New World vulture is the largest flying bird in the world, and the largest bird of prey. As its name suggests, the Andean condor is found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America.

IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable

Sources: (IUCN Red List) (Sky History) (Air Force Magazine) (SORA)

See also: Beautiful wildlife driven to extinction

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