Black Vulture
From WikiBird
Contents |
Size
Length: 65cm (??in), Wingspan: 1.5m (??in)
Field Marks
Mainly glossy black, broad wings with whitish outer primaries, short squared-off tail and featherless greyish head and throat. Rather long, thick, gray legs, longish, hooked, dark bill. Holds wings flat while soaring and gliding. Flies with several quick flaps and a brief glide. Sexes similar. Immature: Similar to adult.
Similar species
The Turkey Vulture is also dark with an unfeathered head, but has a much different shape in flight. The Turkey Vulture is long-winged and long-tailed and flies with a pronounced dihedral angle to the wings. Turkey Vultures lack the white patch at the wingtips and show contrast between paler flight feathers and darker coverts. Eagles are larger with feathered heads and different patterns of white in the wings and tail. Dark morph hawks have longer tails usually with white markings and feathered heads.
Sounds
Feeding & Behavior
They eat mainly carrion, but also eggs and decomposing plant material. They may scavenge at garbage dumps and sometimes kill young animals. These birds on occasion forage in groups. They soar high when searching for food.
Habitat & Nesting
Found in open regions. The female lays 2 or 3 eggs on the ground in a wooded area or in a hollow log or other cavity. Both parents incubate and feed the young, regurgitating food at the nest site.
Range
Found in the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America and South America. They are usually permanent residents. More southerly distribution than the Turkey Vulture.
Resources
