Black Vulture
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mdf" title="User:Mdf">Mdf</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameBlack Vulture
Common NameBlack Vulture
Scientific NameCoragyps atratus
FamilyCathartidae
Wingspan (cm)145
Length (cm)65
Weight (g)2300
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is entirely black, appearing glossy in good light. The head and neck are bare, wrinkled, and dark gray to black. The underside of the primary flight feathers shows distinctive silvery-white patches, especially visible in flight.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent, but can produce a variety of grunts, hisses, and snorts, particularly when competing for food or when disturbed.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsopen country, forest edges, suburban areas, agricultural fields, coastal regions
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 Featuresbare, wrinkled dark gray head and neck, entirely black body plumage, silvery-white patches on primary flight feathers (visible in flight), short tail, heavy, hooked bill
Description
The Black Vulture is a large New World vulture characterized by its entirely black plumage and a distinctive bare, wrinkled, dark gray head and neck. It is a common scavenger, often seen soaring in thermals or perched on high structures, feeding primarily on carrion.
