Black Vulture, American Black vulture, (Coragyps atratus) eating dead fish - stock photo

Vultures are scavengers that feed on carcasses of dead animals. They do not hunt live prey. The acid in their stomachs is very corrosive. It digest decomposing carcasses infected with diseases such as anthrax, cholera, botulinum toxin, and rabies which would likely be lethal to other scavengers. Black vultures are fairly large birds of prey with poor sense of smell. They are often seen following Turkey vultures (who have very keen sense of smell) to carcasses. They are highly social birds and are said to mate for life.