The big black birds that resemble vultures seen soaring in the skies belong to a family of birds known as the Accipitridae. This family includes hawks, eagles, kites, buzzards, and harriers. The most well-known members of this group with dark plumage that are often mistaken for vultures are the black vulture and the turkey vulture.
Turkey Vultures
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are one of the most common large black birds seen across North America. They have a wingspan of up to 6 feet, bodies around 2 feet long, and weight between 3-5 pounds. Turkey vultures get their name from their red or pink head that resembles the head coloration of male wild turkeys. Their feathers are overall dark brownish-black. In flight, turkey vultures hold their wings in a slight V-shape and teeter side-to-side, rocking unsteadily on air currents. Compared to eagles and hawks, turkey vultures have longer, broader wings relative to their body size. This aids them in soaring over open country for long periods with little flapping as they search for carrion.
Some key facts about turkey vultures:
- Found year-round across most of the continental United States, southern Canada, and Central and South America
- Scavengers that eat carrion almost exclusively
- Have an excellent sense of smell, unusual for birds, to help find dead animals
- Wait for carcasses to soften before tearing into them with their beaks
- Play an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of animal carcasses
- Protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Black Vultures
Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) are another common species of large black bird within the Accipitridae family. They are very similar in appearance to turkey vultures but can be distinguished by subtle differences in proportions and flight style. Black vultures have grayer, shorter wings and a shorter, wedge-shaped tail compared to turkey vultures. Their wing beats also have a quicker cadence. In flight, black vultures appear more graceful and less wobbly than turkey vultures.
Some key facts about black vultures:
- Found year-round in the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America
- Scavengers that eat carrion as their main food source
- More social and aggressive at carcasses than turkey vultures
- Have no sense of smell but excellent eyesight
- Rely on sight to find carrion from the air
- Also protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Comparison | Turkey Vulture | Black Vulture |
---|---|---|
Range | Most of continental US, southern Canada, Central and South America | Southeastern US, Mexico, Central and South America |
Wingspan | Up to 6 feet | 4.5-5.5 feet |
Color | Dark brown-black with red or pink head | Overall black plumage |
Flight Style | Unsteady, teetering | More direct and graceful |
Carrion Feeding | Wait for carcasses to soften before feeding | Will feed on fresh carcasses |
Locating Food | Keen sense of smell | Excellent eyesight |
Other Large Black Birds of Prey
While turkey and black vultures are the most widespread dark-colored vulture-like birds in North America, several other large black raptors occupy this ecological niche in regions around the world:
- Palm-nut vulture – Found in tropical western and central Africa in palm swamps and forests. Weighs up to 6 pounds with a wingspan reaching 6 feet.
- Cinereous vulture – The largest Old World vulture, found from southern Europe to central Asia. Weighs up to 31 pounds with a 10 foot wingspan.
- Lappet-faced vulture – Found across much of Africa and the Middle East around deserts and savannas. Weighs up to 20 pounds with an 8 foot wingspan.
- Himalayan griffon – Found along the Himalayas in India, Nepal, China and Russia. Weighs up to 15 pounds with an 8 foot wingspan.
- Andean condor – Found in the Andes mountains of South America. One of the world’s largest flying birds, weighing up to 33 pounds with a 10 foot wingspan.
Like the turkey and black vulture, these raptors fill an important ecological role as scavengers that help keep their environments clean. They have evolved dark feather coloring that helps them absorb heat when soaring at high altitudes in cooler mountainous or temperate regions. Their large wingspans allow them to efficiently scan large areas for animal carcasses.
Old World vs New World Vultures
An interesting note is that vultures found in North America, called New World vultures, are very different from Old World vultures found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. This distinction occurs despite their similar ecological roles:
- Old World vultures are closely related to eagles and hawks, belonging to the Accipitridae family of raptors.
- New World vultures are more closely related to storks and are in the family Cathartidae.
Some theories suggest New World vultures evolved independently from Old World vultures to fill the scavenger niche in the Americas. This happened after the continents separated and in the absence of other large land scavengers like hyenas.
Conclusion
In summary, the most common big black birds resembling vultures in North America are the turkey vulture and black vulture. Both belong to the Accipitridae family of hawks, eagles, kites, and allies. They fill an important ecological role as the primary avian scavengers across the continent. Other dark-colored vulture-like birds around the world belong to this same family of diurnal birds of prey.