Black Vulture
(Coragyps atratus)
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Cathartidae
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HABITAT AND RANGE:
Black vultures prefer open country, but
breed in woodlands and thickets. In the
United States, black vultures reside
from western Texas east to Florida and
north to Pennsylvania. They are also
found in the American Tropics. |
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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The black vulture has black plumage and
a bare head that is black or grayish in
color. They have shorter and rounder
wings than turkey vultures, with a white
patch near each wing tip. |
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ADAPTATIONS:
It has been determined that, unlike
turkey vultures, black vultures do not
have a sense of smell. Consequently,
they must rely on vision to to locate
the carrion that they eat. These birds
soar in groups in search of food. Black
vultures have smaller wings than turkey
vultures, so they have to alternate
flapping and gliding while soaring.
Because they are proficient at
maneuvering between buildings, black
vultures will often forage among cities
and towns. |
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DIET:
Carrion. They are known to be much more
aggressive than the docile turkey
vulture, and can kill small animals.
Occasionally, they will even attack
larger animals such as horses or cows. |
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REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: |
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STATUS IN WILD:
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