Vulture is a kind of little vulture, characteristic by itself to feed, mainly from the dead animal meat in a state of putrefaction; carrion. Usually, vultures are birds that inhabit the American continents.
However, when they cannot find poor meat to eat, vultures usually hunt small animals such as rats, frogs or lizards. In their diet, vultures eat any type of animal meat in composition (decay), including dead human bodies, if they are within reach of these birds.
The vultures' habit of feeding on animals in a state of putrefaction is of great importance for the ecological and environmental balance, by preventing the spread of diseases caused by worms and bacteria.
Characteristically, vultures are black-down birds, with an average lifespan between 8 and 12 years. Their hunting and feeding habits are diurnal, in addition to being used to flying high and in circles, being guided by warm air currents while searching for food.
There are several subspecies of vultures, among the best known is the
King vulture (sarcoramphus pope), popularly known as white vulture, royal vulture or iriburubixá; it's the black-headed vulture (Coragyps atratus), which can also be found, very rarely, with white down (albinism).In Brazil, the word vulture can also be used to denote other meanings, such as: someone who enriches from illegal practices; one cassava species,with a short and thick root; one wild tree, which produces a peculiar purple ink; or nickname given to who accompanies the funerals (servant), torch in hand.
The figure of the vulture is associated with some popular beliefs, like it's a bad omen to have a vulture flying over the house or landed on the roof of the residence. According to superstition, this would be a death sign.
Flamengo vulture
The vulture figure is the current symbol and mascot of the Rio de Janeiro soccer team Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.
The origin of vulture as Flamengo's mascot appeared in 1969, during a dispute between Botafogo, for the second round of the Carioca Championship.
A group of Flamengo fans, after a series of provocations made by opposing teams, decided to take a hidden vulture to the game. Flamengo became champion by 2-1 and the animal became the team's new "amulet".
Before the vulture, Flamengo's mascot was the character in the Popeye cartoons.
See too: Bird of prey.