The Black vulture
The
black vulture, also known as the American black vulture, 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.
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 south to Tierra del Fuego. It is the only
extant member of the genus Coragyps, which is in the family Cathartidae.
Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to
the Eurasian black vulture, an Old World vulture in the family
Accipitridae. It inhabits relatively open areas which provide scattered
forests or shrublands. With a wingspan of 1.5 m, the black vulture is a
large bird though relatively small for a vulture. It has black plumage, a
featherless, grayish-black head and neck, and a short, hooked beak.
- Scientific name: Coragyps atratus
- Length: 22 inch – 29 inch
- Wingspan: 59 inch
- Weight: 3.53 pounds – 6.17 pounds (Andes population, North america population) · 2.65 pounds – 4.19 pounds (Tropical lowlands population)
Nope! They aren't what you think they are!!!
:o)
Thanks. most films, etc. depict vultures as evil, vicious, nasty, as the hyenas of the bird world - it appears nothing could be further from the truth. I don't think the "Dark Crystal" (Skeksis ) helped very much, either.
ReplyDeleteI love having them roost in our trees at night - watching them circle and circle and then glide in and land is fascinating to watch! :o)
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