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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. CI
Field-journal plate: Black Vulture
The Black Vulture plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate CI

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

Cathartidae · Taxon 4765

Length60–68 cm (23.6–26.8 in)
Wingspan137–150 cm (53.9–59.1 in)
Weight1.6–2.2 kg (56.4–77.6 oz)

Field marks

  1. Compact, stocky body with broad, fingered wings
  2. Very short, rounded to square-tipped tail
  3. Sooty-black plumage overall
  4. Small, bare, wrinkled dark gray to black head
  5. Narrow, pale gray, strongly hooked bill with dark eyes
  6. Silvery-white patches confined to the outer underwings

HabitatOpen and semi-open lowlands within forested landscapes, including grasslands, savannas, scrub, agricultural areas, roadsides, and developed settings. It forages over open ground but usually roosts and nests in wooded cover, cavities, caves, or sheltered structures.

BehaviorHighly social scavenger that soars in flocks on thermals, alternating strong, rapid wingbeats with short, flat-winged glides. It feeds mainly on carrion, locates food visually or by following other vultures, and roosts communally.

Palette

sooty blackcharcoal graysilver-whitepale graydusky brown