The family Cathartidae, within the order Accipitriformes, comprises the New World vultures, including well-known species such as the turkey vulture and the Andean condor. These birds are primarily scavengers, feeding on carrion, and play a critical ecological role in cleaning up dead animals and preventing the spread of disease. Members of Cathartidae are characterized by a large wingspan, strong but lightly built bodies, and often a bald head, which helps maintain hygiene while feeding. Unlike many other raptors, some New World vultures have a highly developed sense of smell to locate food, and they exhibit soaring flight patterns to cover vast areas efficiently. They are distributed across North, Central, and South America, inhabiting diverse ecosystems from forests and grasslands to mountains and deserts.