Scientific Name: Coragyps atratus

Large raptor. Uniform black with silvery patches on undersides of wingtips. In flight, broad, rounded wings with distinct “fingers” are held flat like a board. Notice very short tail and small black head. Soars in flocks, often with other vultures and hawks. Flight style is distinctive; bat-like, strong snappy wingbeats followed by short glides. Look for them along highways eating roadkill, or picking through dumpsters.

This scavenger, the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), is a common sight across much of the Americas, thriving in close proximity to human settlements. Their social nature extends beyond soaring; they gather in large groups at roosting sites, often dead trees or utility poles, where they engage in communal sunning and preening. Their vocalizations are limited to grunts and hisses, reflecting their focus on efficient foraging and social hierarchy maintenance within their flocks. While their role in cleaning up carrion is vital to ecosystem health, their presence can be perceived as unsettling due to their association with death and their sometimes aggressive competition at food sources.