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BLACK
VULTURE
Coragyps atratus
IDENTIFICATION: Black
vultures are a large black bird that have no feathers
on their head. The
lack of feathers helps prevent bacterial and other
health problems developing from the food they eat. They
stand about 2 feet tall and have an almost 5 foot
wingspan. The
two features that easily distinguish them from
turkey vultures is that their head is black and
they have light patches at the end of their wings
in flight. Turkey
vultures have a pink head and the lower half of
their wings are light when seen flying.
RANGE AND HABITAT: Black
vultures can be found in open country and near
human settlements. They
especially enjoy garbage dumps and fishing wharfs. They
can be found throughout Florida and their range
extends through most of the Southeastern United
States, Mexico, and South America.
REPRODUCTION: Black
vultures build their nests on the ground in the
middle of dense palmetto plants. Their
nesting season lasts from January to August. Both
parents take turns incubating the eggs which hatch
in a little over a month. The
young have been known to stay near their parents
for up to 70 days.
DIET: Like
all vultures, black vultures mainly eat carrion. They
do not appear to be very good at finding their
own meals, and they often wait until they see a
group of turkey vultures feeding. Then,
the black vultures scare them away and feast. They
have also been known to occasionally catch young
and helpless birds and mammals.
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