the.com/vulture
nature's cleanup crew, dressed for a funeral and immune to your worst leftovers
means A large bald-headed bird of prey that feeds mainly on carrion, or, by extension, a person who profits from others' misfortune.
from From Latin 'vultur' (or 'voltur'), the Romans' name for the bird, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French. The deeper root is murky — some link it to Latin 'vellere,' 'to tear or pluck,' which would suit a creature that pulls flesh from the dead, but that connection is uncertain. The figurative 'vulture' for a greedy opportunist circling a dying fortune is much later and very much earned.
- acid stomach
- gut acid dissolves anthrax and botulism toxins
- bald logic
- featherless heads stay clean inside rotting carcasses
- high flyer
- spotted soaring above 37,000 feet by aircraft
- defense move
- vomits acidic stomach contents to repel attackers
- sky tower
- a feeding group is called a wake
griffon vulture — largest vulture in europe, weighs up to 4.5kg, native to mediterranean cliffs
california condor — rarest vulture species, only 504 alive today, largest north american land bird
lappet-faced vulture — african vulture with 9.6 foot wingspan, critically endangered, declining 98% since 1990s