In this species account, we highlight the Black Vulture found throughout the Americas, not the Black, or Cinereous, Vulture (Aegypius monachus), a different species native to Europe and Asia. “Our” Black Vulture is also known as the American Black Vulture and Mexican Vulture, and in other languages, by names such as Zopilote (thief), Urubu, or Gallinazo (buzzard, vulture).
The American Black Vulture can be identified by its all-black plumage, light gray legs, and a bald, grayish-black head and neck. The featherless head, a feature it has in common with other scavenging species such as the California and Andean Condors, is a practical adaptation to its sometimes-messy diet of carrion and refuse.
The Black Vulture is often found in the same areas as its larger relative, the Turkey Vulture. What are some ways to tell the difference between these two species?
https://abcbirds.org/birds/black-vulture
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