Cannibalism, the behavior in which an individual consumes a conspecific, has been observed across a diverse array of taxa, including birds (Stanback and Koenig 1992). Avian cannibalism most commonly occurs during the egg and nestling stages whereas cannibalism among adults or juveniles outside of the nest is rare (Polis 1981, Stanback and Koenig 1992). Avian species that engage in cannibalistic behaviors have some shared traits including but not limited to carnivory, colonial nesting, and the ability to tear food rather than swallow food whole (Stanback and Koenig 1992). Examples of avian groups that more commonly engage in cannibalism include raptors and seabirds (Stanback and Koenig 1992, Henson et al. 2011, Allen et al. 2020).
One group of raptors that shares traits with avian species that engage in cannibalism but are rarely reported consuming conspecifics are the New World vultures...
