Also, its important to note that the physiology of a new world vulture is very different than other raptors. (Raptor simply means "to bind with claws" not an implication of common family or ancestry)

The Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture are most closely related to Wood Storks than any other living bird. Thus, without knowing much about wood storks I can't comment much on the aforementioned new world vultures but to say that their anatomy and physiology are quite different than other birds.

And just to mention two funny things about them to lighten the tense mood on this thread:

1. Vultures have incredibly strong uric acid that they excrete on their feet to sanitize themselves after eating putrid, rotting flesh. When vultures find a nice comfy asphalt roof to loiter on in droves they just can't be convinced to move on to the neighbor's house. Their excrement will eat through a 30 year roof shingle in about 6 weeks!

2. They can projectile vomit to defend themselves. Imagine the joy of having them shoot their lunch at you in all it's 99 degree half-digested, half-rotten goodness! Mmmm. Great bird to work with.