Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Black vultures are one of two vulture species found in New England. The other, turkey vultures, exhibits a larger wingspan, red skin tone on the neck and face, and an unusually small head to body ratio. Both vulture species are scavengers who tend to feed communally in areas including, but not limited to, highlands, open fields, roadways and garbage dumps. Unlike birds of prey that hunt down and catch smaller animals for food using their razor sharp claws for grasping and strong curved beaks to pick them apart, black vultures are equipped with relatively weak bills and their feet are built for running rather than hunting. As a migratory bird the black vulture’s range includes much of southern Canada down to tropical South America, with a southern migration in fall and a northern return in spring.
Even though you will not find the black vultures on exhibit at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, keep your eyes peeled around the Zoo's grounds for these beautiful elusive birds soaring overhead.
Description:
Black vultures are a large black colored bird with a wingspan of 50-69 inches. The sexes are similar in appearance with the adults and young having black wrinkled skin on the head and neck. During flight a short square tail and a large white patch under the wing distinguishes this species from its relative the turkey vulture.
Habitat:
Temperate and tropical regions, deserts, savannas, scrublands, and swamps. Human inhabited areas: urban, suburban and agricultural lands.
Range:
Extending from southern Canada through the Continental United States into tropical South America.
Diet:
Carrion, small to medium sized mammals, birds, eggs, baby turtles and ripe or rotten fruit.
Lifespan:
21 years in captivity.
Family Life:
Black vultures breed with only one mate, making them monogamous breeders. They hatch one brood per breeding season. The two eggs are deposited in hollow tree stumps, cave bottoms, garbage dumps, forest floors, and building crevasses, among other places. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 32-41 days after which the young hatch out and remain in the nest for an additional 63-70 days.
Status:
The black vulture is common and is considered “least concern” by the IUCN Red List. However, in 1972 this animal was blue-listed due to a lack of suitable tree nesting sites and a thinning of their shells from pesticides such as DDT.
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