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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Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

OTHER NAMES: Buzzard
Latin Etymology: Cathartes ("cleanser") aura (based on an indigineous Mexican name for species)

Adult Turkey Vulture (subspecies C. a. meridionalis) at Berkeley, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Western Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura meridionalis)
Weight: 0.8-2.4kg  /  Length: 62-81cm  /  Wingspan: 160-183cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Turkey Vulture is a member of the New-World Vultures, a group that is evolutionarily distinct from the Vultures featured on this website to date, belonging to their own separate family. The Turkey vulture is probably the archetypal bird of this family, a large black bird with a bright red head which feeds on carrion. They were one of the commonest raptors we encountered on the trip, particularly in hilly areas where they were often thermaling.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Cathartidae
Genus: Cathartes
SUBSPECIES: C. a. aura, C. a. jota, C. a. meridionalis, C. a. ruficollis, C. a. septentrionalis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found throughout the Lower 48 - Summer visitor to more Northern states, resident in the South
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose, Berkeley, Hayward and Big Sur

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

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