Vulture Fights

[Eaglehawk]

[OldGreenVulture]

American black vultures also fight using their feet. These birds are smaller but more aggressive than the less socialble Turkey vultures.

[OldGreenVulture]

[rorqual]

Here's an interesting interaction recently posted by Taipan. Martial eagle vs White-headed vulture.

A martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) and a white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) were found on the ground, their claws planted one inside the other in Zambia, in October 2000. Although the vulture was dead, the eagle could not be released. The author managed to separate the claws of the vulture from the eagle's thigh, but he still had his claws on the chest of the vulture. The next day, the eagle, still weak, was perched on the vulture and had eaten a large part of its back. A day later, he had eaten his belly and the eagle flew when the observer approached. Although the Martial Eagle captures a wide variety of prey, including large birds, apparently this is the first catch that the species gives to another bird of prey. However, in the reported case, the Martial Eagle might not be trying to kill the vulture to eat it. Before his fatal encounter with the eagle, he was probably attracted to the body of an antelope killed by lions in the area.

[OldGreenVulture]

I was going to post that account here. Rorqual, you beat me to it 😁. This account confirms that the feet of the more predatory old world vultures are underrated in general. A lappet faced vulture vs martial eagle is a mismatch in favour of the former. Thanks for posting that account.

[Eaglehawk]

Black Vulture Fight