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Glite Dictionary
🦅 A vulture genus 🦅 A bird genus
Cathartes

Cathartes

9.9
A group of large vultures in the Americas that includes the turkey vulture
  • noun
  • /kəˈθɑːr.tɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cathartes
  • The turkey vulture, a member of the Cathartes genus, is commonly found throughout the Americas.

Examples

  • The turkey vulture, known scientifically as Cathartes aura, is a common sight in many rural areas.

  • Unlike other vultures, birds of the Cathartes genus use their sense of smell to locate food.

  • Researchers studied several species in the Cathartes group to understand their scavenging habits.

  • The Cathartes genus includes several species of vultures.

  • Did you know that the Cathartes vultures are excellent scavengers?

  • In the Cathartes genus, the vultures are identified by their distinctive bald heads.

  • Birds from the Cathartes family play a crucial role in the ecosystem by cleaning up dead animals.

Synonyms

genus Cathartes
vsCathartes
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of vultures from the Americas that includes the turkey vulture

is more general and omits explicit family naming

Compounds

genus Cathartes
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of vultures from the Americas that includes the turkey vulture

Surface Forms

Cathartes singular
Cathartes plural

Etymology

Cathartes comes from the Greek word kathartes, meaning 'purifier', and from katharos, meaning 'clean'. These vultures eat dead animals and so act like nature's cleaners, which is why the name fits their role.