Black Vulture
| Coragyps atratus |
Order CICONIIFORMES - Family CATHARTIDAE |
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- Cool Facts
- Description
- Similar Species
- Sound
- Range
- Other Names
The more southern of our two common vulture species, the Black Vulture flaps its wings rather frequently while it soars. It is more social than the Turkey Vulture, often traveling in large flocks.
Cool Facts
- One-on-one, a Black Vulture can be dominated by the slightly larger Turkey Vulture. But, Black Vultures rarely travel alone. Flocks of Black Vultures can quickly take over a carcass and drive the more solitary Turkey Vultures away.
Description
- Size: 60-68 cm (24-27 in)
- Wingspan: 137-150 cm (54-59 in)
- Weight: 1600-2200 g (56.48-77.66 ounces)
- Large soaring bird.
- Broad wings with large whitish patch at tip.
- Short, square tail. Body black.
- Dark gray head unfeathered and wrinkled.
- Frequently flaps while soaring.
Sex Differences
Sexes look alike.
Immature
Similar to adult, but head darker and without wrinkled skin.
Similar Species
- Turkey Vulture has silvery area along the length of the
wings, has longer wings, a longer tail, a red head (in adults), soars with
wings held up in a V, and flaps very infrequently.
Sound
Usually silent. Can make soft hisses and barks.
»listen to songs of this species
Range
Range Map
© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Summer Range
Resident from southern New York and southern Ohio southward through Texas to Central and South America.
Other Names
Urubu noir (French)
Zopilote común (Spanish)
Sources used to construct this page:
Buckley, N. J. 1999. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). In The Birds of North America, No. 411 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
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