Species BirdsBlack Vulture

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

CommonBird
Illustration of Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

The Black Vulture is an aggressive, highly social vulture that lacks the excellent sense of smell of the Turkey Vulture, so it often follows Turkey Vultures to carcasses and then displaces them. It flaps more frequently than the Turkey Vulture and soars on flat, not dihedral, wings. Unusual among birds, it exhibits long-term pair bonds and both parents feed the young for months after fledging.

Habitat
Open country, forest edges, roadsides, and dump sites
Diet
Carrion and occasionally small live prey
How common
Common

Recent Black Vulture sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Black Vulture? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More birds

Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
American Avocet
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
American Bittern
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
American Black Duck
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Coot
American Coot
Fulica americana
American Crow
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Flamingo
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
American Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica