Black Vulture Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBlack Vulture
Adult
Large with broad wings, a short tail, and a small head. Entirely black except for silvery patches on the underside of the wingtips. Note splayed wingtips or "fingers" in flight.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, January 18, 2021Adult
Compact, almost all-black vulture with unfeathered black head and white flashes or "stars" in the wing.
© Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, October 28, 2014Not all videos have sound
Adult
Hefty black bird with an unfeathered head and a pale bill.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryQuintana Roo, January 12, 2017Adult
Feeds almost exclusively on carrion, locating it by soaring high in the skies on thermals.
© Sam Zhang / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 07, 2017Adult
Soars on flat wings. Note short tail. White "stars" in underwing can be hard to see at distance.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 23, 2008Not all videos have sound
Adult
Perched birds are entirely black with a gray and unfeathered head.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryPanamá, August 08, 2008Adult
Often roosts in stands of tall trees including sycamores, pines, hickories, oaks, junipers, and bald cypress.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, April 23, 2017Flock with Turkey Vultures
Roosts in large groups, sometimes with Turkey Vultures, which are slightly larger with red heads (at right of frame).
© Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, October 28, 2014Not all videos have sound
Adult
Often spreads its wings to cool down or warm up by exposing the underwings.
© Francisco Dubón / Macaulay LibraryCopán, December 24, 2014Habitat
Typically roosts in groups in wooded areas and soars above open areas looking for food. Congregates around carcasses.
© joseph mileyka / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, September 24, 2017Adult
May occur around towns and buildings, where it can be quite bold, investigating dumpsters and other possible food sources.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 08, 2014Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesTurkey Vulture
Adult (Northern)
Turkey Vultures have longer, narrower wings and longer tails than Black Vultures. They have grayish primaries and secondaries, whereas Black Vultures have black wings with white "stars" in the primaries.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 01, 2017Similar SpeciesTurkey Vulture
Adult (Northern)
Turkey Vultures have a red (not gray) head.
© Abhishek Kambhampati / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 09, 2017Similar SpeciesBald Eagle
Adult
Adult Bald Eagles are larger with longer, very broad wings and a feathered white head and tail that Black Vultures lack.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryColorado, January 10, 2017Similar SpeciesGolden Eagle
Adult
Golden Eagles are larger with a longer tail, longer wings, and a feathered head unlike the bald-headed Black Vulture.
© Jeff Bleam / Macaulay LibraryNevada, April 06, 2017Similar SpeciesRed-tailed Hawk
Adult dark morph (Harlan's)
Dark-morph Red-tailed Hawks are more brown than black, without the white "stars" in the primaries that Black Vultures show. The Red-tail's feathered head looks larger than the Black Vulture's bald head.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryOklahoma, March 01, 2012Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Vultures(Order: Cathartiformes, Family: Cathartidae)
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