In this article we will discuss a particular type of bird – the scavenger. Scavenging birds are birds that primarily feed on carrion, which is the fancy way of saying dead animals. It may sound a bit gruesome but these birds serve as crucial ecological players, recycling organic matter and returning nutrients to the ecosystem. Think of them as part of natures clean-up crew!
10 Birds That Eat Dead Animals
This article explores the world of avian scavengers, from soaring vultures to cunning crows. While there are many birds that eat dead animals around the word, we’ll focus here on species you can find in the United States.
1. Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
This first one might surprise you, but the majestic Bald Eagle will feed on dead animals. Bald eagles are primarily hunters that focus on catching fish like salmon and trout. But they also employ two other tactics for getting their food. One is stealing a catch from another bird like an osprey, or even other mammals.
Eating carrion is another strategy they can use for survival. Carrion is sometimes consumed when fresh, live catches are less available. But they can also just be in the right place at the right time for some easy pickings, like leftover fisherman’s bait or roadkill.
This adaptability in diet showcases the Bald Eagle’s ability to thrive in diverse environments, contributing to its status as a symbol of strength and resilience.
2. Black Vulture
Scientific Name: Coragyps atratus
The Black Vulture, a distinctive bird with dark plumage and a bald, gray-skinned face, primarily resides in the southern part of the United States in coastal states spanning from Delaware to Texas. They have been moving further north in recent years and have sometimes been spotted in New England.
These vultures like to hang out in small family groups, soaring high in the sky looking for food such as carcasses of poultry, cattle, raccoons, opossums and more. They often live in the same range as the next bird on this list, the turkey vulture. You can tell them apart easily because turkey vultures have pink faces while black vultures have gray faces.
Interestingly, black vultures don’t have a great sense of smell. So they can’t use their nose as effectively as turkey vultures to find dead animals. Rather, they soar higher in the sky than the turkey vultures and keep an eye out for them. If they see a turkey vulture has spotted a good carcass, they will follow it to the food site.