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Why do vultures have bald heads?

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For years, experts have assumed that vultures have bald heads and necks to prevent their feathers from being soiled when they tuck into a meal, usually a newly discovered carcass. That notion has helped fuel the perception of vultures as unsophisticated, blood-thirsty scavengers. read more

The reason why vultures are such strange-looking birds can finally be revealed, thanks to a research team from the University. For years, experts have assumed that vultures have bald heads and necks to prevent their feathers from being soiled when they tuck into a meal, usually a newly discovered carcass. read more

More recently it has been suggested that bald heads serve to help vultures regulate their body temperature when moving rapidly from cold air to warm air when they descend from cold, high altitude air to warmer air near the ground. Perhaps both functions are important. read more

Vultures are large birds that do not have the option of seeking shelter underground, or in dense vegetation, to avoid extreme temperatures: in both extreme cold and extreme heat the birds remain perched in the open on trees or cliffs without making any apparent attempt to seek shelter. read more

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University of Glasgow - University news - Archive of news ...
Source: gla.ac.uk

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