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Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
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About the Black Vulture
The black vulture (Coragyps atratus), also known as the American black vulture, Mexican vulture, zopilote, urubu, or gallinazo, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the northeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America, and common throughout Brazil where it can be seen in large scavenging groups. Although a common and widespread species, it has a somewhat more restricted distribution than its compatriot, the turkey vulture, which breeds well into Canada and all the way south to Tierra del Fuego. It is the only extant member of the genus Coragyps, which is in the family Cathartidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Coragyps atratus
- Family
- New World Vultures
- Order
- Cathartiformes
Similar species
Other members of the new world vultures family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
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