Black Vulture

This bird is an Old World vulture, and is only distantly related to the New World vultures, which are in a separate family, Cathartidae, of the order Ciconiiformes. It is therefore not directly related to the American Black Vulture despite the similar name and coloration.

The Black Vulture is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, also known as the American Black Vulture, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. Although a common and widespread species, it has a somewhat more restricted distribution than its compatriot, the Turkey Vulture, which breeds well into Canada and south to Tierra del Fuego. Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Eurasian Black Vulture. More

the vultures in its range, the Eurasian Black Vulture is best equipped to tear open tough carcass skins, using its powerful bill. It is dominant over other vultures at carcasses. It can fly at a very high altitude. It has a specialised haemoglobin alphaD subunit of high oxygen affinity which makes it possible to take up oxygen efficiently despite the low partial pressure in the upper troposphere. More

The Black Vulture is a scavenger and feeds on carrion, but will also eat eggs or kill newborn animals. In areas populated by humans, it also feeds at garbage dumps. It finds its meals either by using its keen eyesight or by following other (New World) vultures, which possess a keen sense of smell. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of birds—its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. More

Common Names: Black Vulture, American Black Vulture, or Carrion Crow. (Sometimes incorrectly called the Black Buzzard. 'Buzzards' are more properly broad-winged hawks). Black Vulture Photograph Courtesy of R.D. Scheer Copyright More

Black Vulture Range MapView dynamic map of eBird sightings Field MarksHelp - * AdultsPopOutZoom In Adults * © William L. More

The black vulture has heavier wing loading (shorter wings so less surface area for weight) than the turkey vulture, requiring stronger thermals for soaring, so they usually become active an hour or more after turkey vultures. They are also often seen soaring higher than turkey vultures. Voice: Hisses or grunts when feeding or disturbed at nest. They are seldom heard and have no voice box. Habitat: Open country wherever carrion is present. More

The American Black Vulture is a scavenger, feeding off the remains of dead domestic and wild animals. Dependent on its sense of smell to locate the carcasses, a fresh kill will not always attract its attention. If the carcass has been left in the open for a day or more, the Black Vulture will be there. More

Black Vulture is blacker than Turkey; tail stubby; wings shorter, wider, with a white patch. Caution: Young Turkey Vulture has a blackish head. Range: Ohio, Pennsylvania to n. Chile, n. Argentina. West: Uncommon local resident in s. Arizona, w. Texas (Big Bend). Habitat: Similar to Turkey Vulture's; avoids higher mountains. More

The Black Vulture is a scavenger bird located in southeastern United States, central Chile and South America. It feeds on carrion, eggs and small animals, and sometimes garbage in areas populated by humans. Its only form of vocalization is a grunt or hiss, and typically nests in caves, hollow trees or on the bare ground. Evidence of the species has been found rampant in historical Mayan hieroglyphics. More

Black Vultures are resident in tropical and warm temperate from southern Canada to southern South America including continental United States of America. In the northern parts of their range they have a southward migration in the fall and a returning spring migration. Habitat - The Black Vulture prefers an open habitat and avoids dense forests as much as possible. More

Flight: The black vulture flies with its wings in a flat line. Its tail is rounded like a fan, and the undersides of the wings have distinctly lighter primaries, making it look as though the outer tips of the wings are white. Taking off and landing is an amusing spectacle, as these are among the least graceful of the vulture family. Range/Habitat: Common in southeastern United States, in forests, fields, and coasts. More

Black VultureA common New World vulture, the American Black Vulture, or Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus is unrelated to the Eurasian Black Vulture. The latter species is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae (which includes eagles, hawks, kites and harriers), whereas the American species is a New World vulture in the family Cathartidae. It is the only extant member of the genus Coragyps. In the United States, this vulture receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. More

Black Vultures are scavengers that feed on carrion, but they also take weak, sick, or unprotected young birds and mammals. They soar in a group, alternately flapping and gliding, until one of them discovers carrion, whereupon all the others converge on the find. They are smaller but more aggressive than Turkey Vultures and will drive the latter from a carcass. More

Black vulture in Pyrenees - Reintroduction project based in the Catalan Pyrenees, aiming to reintroduce the Black Vulture as a breeding species in the Pyrenees and to establish a population which could reinforce the link between the Iberian and the French populations. More

Aspects of the topic black vulture are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * description (in vulture (bird): New World vultures) In addition to the California and Andean condors, other notable New World vultures include the black vulture (Coragyps atratus), a New World vulture sometimes called a black buzzard or, inappropriately, a carrion crow. More

He found black vultures only in 1947 and 1949. His counts were in the Athens/Glenlyn area. The Bibbee Nature Club has conducted the Pipestem Area Christmas Bird Count from 1972 to present. No black vultures were found on the count until 1978. They were reported 3 times between 1979 and 1986, 2 times between 1987 and 1995 and every year since 1996. The 2001 count saw a record number of 57. More

Unlike Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures depend on their vision to find food. The Black Vulture is black with a white patch near each wing tip that is conspicuous in flight. Its head is bare and grayish in color. Its feet extend beyond the short tail. The Black Vulture flaps its shorter and rounder wings more often and more rapidly than the Turkey Vulture. More

Black Vultures are common around Lake Norman and most people call them Buzzards. The American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, also known as the Black Vulture, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to South America. Although a common and widespread species, it has a somewhat more restricted distribution than its compatriot, the Turkey Vulture, which breeds well into Canada and south to Tierra del Fuego. More

Common Name: Black Vulture, American black vulture, Carrion crow, Black buzzard, Jim crow, Charleston eagle - Vellere meaning "tear" in Latin is the etymological root for the word vulturius, the Latin name of the vulture; the metaphor applies to the manner in which the vultures tear at their carrion quarry during feeding. The glossy black plumage is the most obvious characteristic of the species. More

Nestling Black Vulture fostered to nest at Noxubee NWR - Teaching the hatchling to feed from the beak A follow-up visit to the shed showed the adopted orphan was doing well A hatchling Black Vulture from Tennessee was brought to The Wildlife Center when it was two days old. The egg had been found in a barn, and the farmer had hatched the egg under a lamp. More

black vultureThe black vulture is 24-27 inches in length with a wingspan of 54-59 inches. It has a black body, a short, square tail and a featherless and wrinkled dark gray head and neck. It has weak feet and a relatively weak bill. It has broad, round wings that are edged in white on the undersides. Males and females look alike. More

The black vulture is more common in eastern North Carolina while the turkey vulture is more common in the mountains and the Piedmont. DESCRIPTION The black vulture is a large black bird with a wingspan of 4 1/2 to 5 feet. It has a rather short tail and can be easily identified in flight by the presence of a conspicuous white patch underneath each wing tip. More

European black vulture egg in nest© Mike Jones / www.flpa-images.co.uk European black vulture chick in nest© Jorge Sierra / www.osfimages.com European black vulture adult with chick in nest© Duncan Usher / www.ardea.com European black vulture with chick at nest© Duncan Usher / www.ardea.com European black vulture chick in nest© Valdimir Koblintsev / naturepl. More

Home Guide to Birds of North America Black Vulture Description Description - BREEDING MALE - The Black Vulture has black plumage with pale wingtips that are visible in flight. It has a naked, grayish-black head. turkey vulture Female - Sexes similar. Seasonal change in appearance - None. More