American Black Vulture

American black vulture
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Cathartidae Genus: Coragyps Species: atratus
Binomial name
Coragyps atratus

The less widespread but still common North American vulture is the American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus. This tends to have a more southerly distribution than its compatriot, the Turkey Vulture, which breeds well into Canada.

Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to Eurasian Black Vulture. The latter species is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae (which includes eagles, hawks, kitess and harrierss), whereas the American species is a New World vulture in the family Cathartidae.

The photograph was taken at Flamingo, Florida

see also

• Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
• Californian Condor, Gymnogyps californianus