What family classification distinguishes the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) from the Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)?
Answer
Cathartidae for Cathartes aura and Accipitridae for Sarcogyps calvus
The Turkey Vulture, designated as *Cathartes aura*, belongs to the New World Vulture family, known scientifically as Cathartidae. In contrast, the Red-headed Vulture, *Sarcogyps calvus*, which is found in Asia, belongs to the Old World Vulture group, classified under the Accipitridae family. This distinction highlights a fundamental evolutionary and geographical separation between these two groups of scavenging raptors, despite their shared characteristic of having bare, colored heads.
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