Difference between revisions of "Black vulture"
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| + | |conservation=Least concern<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697624/0</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | The black vulture has a body length of 56 to 74 centimeters, a wing span of 133 to 160 centimeters and is 1.1 to 1.9 kg heavy. Its plumage is brilliantly black, with a naked dark gray head and neck. It has very wide, relatively short wings and a short tail; in flight it is distinguished from turkey vultures by the relatively flat plane of the wings, versus the shallow "V" held by the other birds. In standing, the tips of the folded wings reach to the tip of the tail. The legs and the beak are gray, the iris dark. In young birds the beak is uniformly gray, the plumage does not shine. The skin of the head is black and slightly wrinkled. | ||
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| + | The black vulture is sociable and mainly feeds on carrion, but also kills prey on occasion. They live in open and wooded landscapes as well as hilly areas up to an altitude of about 8,000 feet. It occurs in the southern United States, in Mexico (except Baja California), and Central and South America, as far south as southern Argentina and Chile. | ||
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| + | ===Subspecies=== | ||
| + | *''Coragyps atratus atratus'', North American black vulture; southern United States west to Arizona, south to Panama. | ||
| + | *''Coragyps atratus brasiliensis'', South American black vulture; central, northern and eastern South America. | ||
| + | *''Coragyps atratus foetens'', Andean black vulture; Ecuador to Chile and Argentina. | ||
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| + | ==Reproduction== | ||
| + | The propagation time of black vultures varies with the geographical latitude. Usually two eggs are laid on ledges or tree cavities; no nests are constructed. Eggs hatch between 28 to 41 days, and the chicks are fed by both parents for about two months until fledging. | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <small><references/></small> | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Vultures]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Vultures]] | ||
Revision as of 08:10, February 13, 2017
| Black Vulture | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Cathartiformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Cathartidae |
| Sub-family | Cathartinae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Coragyps |
| Species Information | |
| Species | C. atratus |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
Description
The black vulture has a body length of 56 to 74 centimeters, a wing span of 133 to 160 centimeters and is 1.1 to 1.9 kg heavy. Its plumage is brilliantly black, with a naked dark gray head and neck. It has very wide, relatively short wings and a short tail; in flight it is distinguished from turkey vultures by the relatively flat plane of the wings, versus the shallow "V" held by the other birds. In standing, the tips of the folded wings reach to the tip of the tail. The legs and the beak are gray, the iris dark. In young birds the beak is uniformly gray, the plumage does not shine. The skin of the head is black and slightly wrinkled.
The black vulture is sociable and mainly feeds on carrion, but also kills prey on occasion. They live in open and wooded landscapes as well as hilly areas up to an altitude of about 8,000 feet. It occurs in the southern United States, in Mexico (except Baja California), and Central and South America, as far south as southern Argentina and Chile.
Subspecies
- Coragyps atratus atratus, North American black vulture; southern United States west to Arizona, south to Panama.
- Coragyps atratus brasiliensis, South American black vulture; central, northern and eastern South America.
- Coragyps atratus foetens, Andean black vulture; Ecuador to Chile and Argentina.
Reproduction
The propagation time of black vultures varies with the geographical latitude. Usually two eggs are laid on ledges or tree cavities; no nests are constructed. Eggs hatch between 28 to 41 days, and the chicks are fed by both parents for about two months until fledging.