CATHARTID^E: American Vultures 



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CATHARTID^E (Family American Vultures) : Large birds; head and neck 

 mostly naked ; bill long (compared with other Raptores) , hooked ; foot hen- 

 like, not adapted to carrying prey. Noted for great power of vision. Three 

 members of this family occur north of Mexico, two within our limits. 



Res. In California moun- 

 tains between San Joaquin 

 Valley and the ocean. For- 

 merly ranged northward to 

 British Columbia, eastward to 

 Arizona; and south to north- 

 ern Lower California, where a 

 few birds may still exist. 



Colifornia Vulture 



Res., generally, though re- 

 latively few in winter, when 

 it is most common in Lower 

 Sonoran Zone of southeastern 

 California and southwestern 

 Arizona. Nests usually in 

 holes or niches in cliffs. 



