Salt Grass Flats - Celebrating Gulf Coast Birds
Tips & Trips
Field
Guides
Scenic Trips
Birds
American Bittern
American Coot
Belted Kingfisher
Black-necked Stilt
Black Vulture
Caracara
Common Moorhen
Cormorants
Double-crested
Neotropical (Olivaceous)
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Phoebe
Great Egret
Great Horned Owl
Killdeer
Little Blue Heron
Loggerhead Shrike
Pelicans
Cooperative Fishing
Roseate Spoonbill
Tricolor Heron
Turkey Vulture
Snowy Egret
White-fronted Goose
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Wildlife
Reptiles
Alligators
Green Anole
Red-Eared Slider
Snakes
Mammals
Armadillo
Bobcat
River Otter
Wildlife Rehab
Field Notes
Where have you been?
What wildlife have you seen?
What behavior did you observe?
Share your experiences here!
Ask questions of experts.
Receive identification help.
Post your questions, photos and
observations here!
Email Us
Join the update list
Click here! |
The Sibley Guide to Birds contains marvelous illustrations originally drawn by the author using watercolors. This is a great identification guide, not only for adult birds, but juveniles, also. |
|
|
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Wingspan: 59"
Length: 23 - 27"
Weight: 4.4 pounds
M/F outwardly similar |
 |
 |
|
Dark gray wrinkly skin, bald heads and faces only a mother could love help identify the American Black Vulture. Other identifying field marks are the conspicuous white patches under each of their wingtips. They also have shorter tails than Turkey vultures. |
|
These large, black birds can have wingspans of up to five feet. Its on the wing when these birds are really magnificent.
Black Vultures soar with their wings held "flat". (Turkey vultures soar in the form of a very shallow "V".) |
|
When flying, Black vultures make several quick flaps followed by a short glide. They tend to soar higher than Turkey vultures, often later in the day.
|
|
Black Vultures hunt carrion by sight rather than scent.
With weak feet and blunt talons, Black Vultures are poor hunters but do catch, kill and eat small mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, as well as eggs and occassionally fruit. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Black Vultures apparently mate for life and can often be seen in pairs.
They are gregarious birds forming large flocks. The birds in any given flock are often related.
Extended family units tend to live and roost together. |
|
 |
|
Up through the mid 1990's vultures had been considered birds of prey like eagles, hawks and owls. They have since been reclassified as part of the stork family.
|
|
Although somewhat smaller than Turkey Vultures, the Blacks are more aggressive. It is not unusual for Black Vultures to muscle aside and take over food sources found by Turkey Vultures.
Black Vultures prefer open habitats rather than wooded areas and are more common in lowlands than in mountain areas.
While Black Vultures can be found throughout the United States they seem to be more common in the southern states than up north. Their range extends down through central South Anmerica. |
|
|
|
