OTHER NAMES: American Black Vulture
Latin Etymology: Coragyps ("raven vulture") atratus ("clothed in black")
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025
Featured Subspecies: Coragyps atratus brasiliensis
Weight: 1.2-3kg / Length: 56-74cm / Wingspan: 1.3-1.67m
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Found from New York to nearly the Southern most tip of South America, the Black Vulture (not to be confused with the Eurasian Black Vulture) is a versatile scavenger found across a wide range of habitats and climate zones. Unlike the turkey vulture, they are a sight based scavenger and will follow other species to carcasses if they cannot find one themselves. They are also known to congregate at landfill sites to feed, and are generally opportunistic in their hunting.
Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Cathartidae
Genus: Coragyps
SUBSPECIES: C. a. atratus, C. a. foetens, C. a. brasiliensis (none universally recognised)
- Sighting Locations -
A widespread and fairly common resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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