Black Vulture

Description:

With a wingspan of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), 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. The black vulture is a scavenger and feeds on carrion, but will also eat eggs or kill newborn animals.

Habitat:

The Black Vulture lives year-round in forested and open areas. The are most abundant at low elevations. The Black Vulture breeds in dense woodlands, but usually forages in open habitats and along roads. Some live in semi-rural suburbs. Black Vultures roost in undisturbed stands of tall trees, as well as structures like electrical pylons. Roost sites are often close to water and next to obstructions that generate updrafts of air, to help the flock take flight in the early morning.