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| Black vulture | |
|---|---|
| Name | Black vulture |
| Status | LC |
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Genus | Coragyps |
| Species | atratus |
| Authority | (Wagler, 1827) |
Black vulture is a large New World vulture of the family Cathartidae noted for its dark plumage, broad wings, and social carrion-feeding behavior. It ranges across parts of North, Central, and South America and has adapted to a variety of anthropogenic and natural landscapes. The species has featured in studies by ornithologists and conservationists focusing on scavenger ecology, human–wildlife interactions, and ecosystem services.
The species was described in the 19th century by Johann Georg Wagler and placed in the genus Coragyps, which is allied with other New World vultures such as species studied by Alexander von Humboldt and cataloged in collections like those of the Smithsonian Institution and the Linnean Society of London. Molecular phylogenetics involving researchers from institutions including the American Museum of Natural History and universities such as Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley have explored relationships among Cathartidae, addressing historical debates involving authors like Charles Darwin and comparative analyses referencing the fossil record from formations studied by teams at the Royal Ontario Museum and the Field Museum of Natural History. The specific epithet atratus reflects early nomenclature conventions used in taxonomic works published in the era of the Zoological Society of London.
Adults exhibit predominantly black plumage with a featherless gray-black head and a short tail, dimensions measured in museum specimens curated by institutions such as the Natural History Museum, London and the American Museum of Natural History. Morphometric studies published by researchers affiliated with Cornell Lab of Ornithology provide standard measurements for wing chord, bill length, and mass. Field guides by authors associated with the National Audubon Society, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and regional checklists used by NGOs like the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania contrast the species with other scavengers such as members of Cathartes and Old World vultures documented in works from the British Ornithologists' Union. Sexual dimorphism is limited, and juvenile plumage progression has been described in atlases produced by the American Ornithological Society.
The species occupies a range extending from the southeastern United States through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America, with records reported in national parks like Everglades National Park, Yosemite National Park, and conservation areas such as Iguaçu National Park. Studies by governmental agencies including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources document expansion into urban and agricultural landscapes. Habitat use encompasses open and semi-open areas, coastal zones, wetlands, and anthropogenic environments surveyed in projects funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation and regional universities including University of Florida.
The species is gregarious, forming roosts and communal foraging groups noted in behavioral studies by researchers at institutions such as University of Georgia and University of Texas at Austin. Observational work published in journals supported by the National Institutes of Health and collaborative projects with NGOs like BirdLife International examine social dynamics, thermoregulation, and interspecific interactions with raptors documented by teams from the Raptor Research Foundation. Seasonal movements and local dispersal patterns have been analyzed using telemetry technology developed through partnerships involving NASA, NOAA, and university research centers.
Primarily a scavenger, the species consumes carrion and occasionally preys on eggs and neonates as reported in field studies by researchers connected to the Society for Conservation Biology and regional wildlife agencies such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Investigations into feeding ecology reference carcass studies conducted in collaboration with veterinary programs at institutions like Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and necropsy protocols standardized by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Interactions at carcasses with species such as American crow and raptors like Bald eagle have been documented in community ecology surveys published by the Ecological Society of America.
Breeding biology has been detailed in monographs and region-specific studies coordinated by organizations such as the Wilson Ornithological Society and universities including University of Florida and University of Georgia. Nesting occurs on substrates ranging from hollow trees to cliffs and man-made structures, with clutch size, incubation, and fledging parameters reported in long-term monitoring programs run by agencies like the U.S. National Park Service and academic partners. Juvenile dispersal and survivorship metrics are included in demographic models used by conservation biologists at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
Assessed as Least Concern by international evaluators analogous to the IUCN Red List, regional populations face threats documented by conservation bodies such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and national departments including the Ministry of Environment of Brazil. Threats include vehicle collisions on roadways studied by transportation research centers at institutions like Texas A&M University, poisoning incidents investigated by wildlife health programs at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and habitat alteration reported in environmental impact assessments involving agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency. Management and mitigation measures are discussed in reports from NGOs including Defenders of Wildlife and policy analyses by university research groups.