American Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

Also known as:Black Vulture

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Identification

Field notes

58-68 cm (23-27") Common scavenger in southeastern United States, rare in west and Canada. Open country, dumps, roadsides, urban areas.

Large, black, eagle-like bird with a short square tail; unfeathered gray head, pale bill.

In filight; soars and flaps on long, broad, "fingered" wings that have a whitish patch near the tips. Similar Turkey Vulture tilts back and forth on two-toned wings held in a V in flight and has a smaller head and longer tail.

Song: grunts, hisses.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

American Black Vulture

Credit: deterioration

Black Vulture Sitting In Tree

Credit: Brian Kushner

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black Vulture

4 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: In a shallow "V" · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:393-black-vulture:1:1 Source: 393 Black Vulture, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: In a shallow "V" · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:393-black-vulture:2:1 Source: 393 Black Vulture, row 2

Rule 3 12 criteria confidence 6

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:393-black-vulture:3:1 Source: 393 Black Vulture, row 3

Rule 4 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:393-black-vulture:4:1 Source: 393 Black Vulture, row 4