Vultures are large birds of prey closely related to hawks and eagles.
They are divided into New World vultures and Old World vultures, both belonging to the order Falconiformes. The head and neck of vultures from both families are usually bare except for a thin covering of down. Both groups have weak feet, adapted more for running than for clutching. The bills of New World vultures are relatively weak, whereas the Old World vultures generally have much stronger beaks. The New World vultures are distributed in North and South America.