Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

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 -

COSTA RICA 

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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Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

OTHER NAMES: Monk Vulture, Cinereous Vulture

Latin Etymology: Aegypius ("Vulture") monachus ("monk" ie hooded)

Adult Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 6-13kg  /  Length: 98-120cm  /  Wingspan: 2.5-3.1m
ABSENT FROM UK / Red List: Near Threatened 

The Eurasian Black Vulture (or whichever name you choose to call it by) is a very impressive bird by a lot of metrics - it's enormous for a start - larger than any raptor in the Old World and only exceeded by the Condors in the new.  As such, it has the only wingspan of any bird I have seen thus far to exceed 3 metres, and is in the region of the top 10 for both heaviest and largest wingspan of all flying birds.  Not only that, but they have been recorded flying at spectacular heights of nearly 7 miles - one of the highest flying of all birds.  Their European stronghold is in Spain, but the bulk of their range is Central Asia.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aegypius
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Buitre Negro ("Black Vulture")

Locally fairly common resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen around bundant at Valdetorres Del Jarama and Patones
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen at each of El Pardo and Monfrague National Park.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .