The black vulture, also known as the American black vulture, Mexican vulture, zopilote, urubu, or gallinazo, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America, and common throughout Brazil where it can be seen in large scavenging groups. 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 all the way south to Tierra del Fuego. It is the only extant member of the genus Coragyps, which is in the family Cathartidae. Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is not closely related to the Eurasian black vulture, an Old World vulture, of the family Accipitridae. For ease of locating animal corpses, black vultures tend to inhabit relatively open areas with scattered trees, such as chaparral, in addition to subtropical forested areas and parts of the Brazilian pantanal.
Region
Neotropics and southeastern North America
Typical Environment
Occurs from the southeastern United States through Mexico and Central America into much of South America, including Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, and central Chile. Favors open or semi-open landscapes such as savannas, pastures, scrublands, wetlands, and urban edges. Often seen along roadsides and near abattoirs, fisheries, and garbage dumps. Roosts communally in large trees, on cliffs, buildings, or transmission towers and uses thermals to range widely over the landscape.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the American black vulture, it is the only extant member of the genus Coragyps. It relies heavily on sight and often follows turkey vultures, which have a keener sense of smell, to find carrion. Black vultures are highly social, roosting and feeding in groups, and commonly use human-altered sites like landfills. They often sun with wings spread to warm up and kill bacteria on their feathers.
Black vulture pair feeding on a mule deer head. Plate 106 from The Birds of America by J. J. Audubon.
C. occidentalis fossil
Adult and juvenile, Hueston Woods State Park, Ohio
Black vulture flying over the Parque de las Leyendas in Lima Peru
Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Hatchlings
Black vultures observe a morning catch of fish in Puerto López , Ecuador.
On a sign in Florida.
Temperament
social and gregarious
Flight Pattern
soaring glider with short, rapid, shallow wingbeats interspersed with long glides on thermals
Social Behavior
Forms large communal roosts and feeds in groups with a clear dominance hierarchy. Typically monogamous; nests in caves, hollow trees, abandoned buildings, or on the ground in concealed sites, laying 1–3 eggs. Both parents incubate and feed nestlings by regurgitation. Often follows turkey vultures or other scavengers to carcasses.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Does not sing; lacks a well-developed syrinx. Vocalizations are limited to hisses, grunts, and snarls, especially at carcasses or around the nest.
