Black Vulture
Image: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Mdf" class="extiw" title="en:User:Mdf">Mdf</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameBlack Vulture
Common NameBlack Vulture
Scientific NameCoragyps atratus
FamilyCathartidae
Wingspan (cm)143
Length (cm)62
Weight (g)2100
Plumage DetailsAdults are entirely black with a dull, wrinkled, featherless gray head and neck. The underside of the primary flight feathers has distinctive white patches, visible in flight. The bill is dark with a pale, hooked tip, and the legs are pale gray.
Vocalization / CallBlack Vultures are generally silent, lacking a syrinx. They produce a limited range of sounds, primarily grunts, hisses, and snorts, especially when agitated or competing for food.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland, urban, coastal, savanna, shrubland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound throughout the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and most of South America, extending south to central Chile and Argentina.
Identifying Featuresall-black plumage, featherless gray head and neck, pale bill tip, short tail, white patches on primary flight feathers (visible in flight), pale legs
Description
The Black Vulture is a large, all-black scavenger with a featherless, wrinkled gray head and neck. It is often seen soaring in thermals or perched in groups, feeding primarily on carrion. This species is highly social and can be found in a variety of open and semi-open habitats.
