Birdsong field guide
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
A stocky, soot-black scavenger characterized by its short tail and distinctive silvery wing patches visible in flight. It is a highly social bird of prey that frequently congregates in large communal roosts.
What it sounds like
Generally silent, but emits raspy hisses, guttural grunts, or low barks when feeding or defending territory.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Lacks a refined sense of smell and often follows Turkey Vultures to find food sources.
- Engages in urohidrosis, the practice of defecating on its own legs to regulate body temperature through evaporation.
- Maintains long-term family bonds and is known to share food with close relatives at carcasses.
- Displays higher levels of aggression than other vultures and may occasionally hunt small live prey or newborn livestock.
- Identifiable in the air by its quick, choppy wingbeats followed by short glides with wings held in a slight dihedral.
Habitat
Open landscapes, forests, agricultural lands, and suburban areas near human-driven food sources.
Range
Southeastern United States through Central America and most of South America.
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