# Black Vulture

*Coragyps atratus*

Lacking a syrinx (vocal organ), they cannot sing; they can only produce raspy hisses or low grunts.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Cathartiformes › Cathartidae › Coragyps
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Open landscapes including grasslands, pastures, and suburban areas near forest edges.
- **Diet:** Primarily carrion; occasionally eggs or small live animals.
- **Range:** North America, Central America, South America
- **Size:** Wingspan: 1.3–1.5 meters; Weight: 1.6–2.2 kg
- **Lifespan:** 10-25 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Lead poisoning from ammunition in carrion, vehicle strikes, and secondary poisoning from pesticides.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans but defensive. Maintain a distance of at least 15 feet. If cornered or stressed, they may projectile vomit highly acidic stomach contents as a deterrent; wash skin immediately with soap and water if contact occurs.

## About

The black vulture ( Coragyps atratus ), also known as the American black vulture , is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. Although a common and widespread species, it has a somewhat more restricted distribution than its compatriot, the turkey vulture, which breeds well into Canada and south to Tierra del Fuego. It is the only extant member of the

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/4d2236f9-fdd6-44d7-a42c-cdf9bee83513
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4765
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coragyps atratus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/342659116/medium.jpeg (Cricket Raspet, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.