Black Vulture Information

The more southern of our two common vulture species, the Black Vulture flaps its wings rather frequently while it soars. It is more social than the Turkey Vulture, often traveling in large flocks

It is a large soaring bird with broad wings with a large whitish patch at the tip. It has a black body with a short, square tail. The dark head is unfeathered and wrinkled. It is usually silent but can make soft hisses and barks. The Turkey Vulture has a silvery area along the length of the wings, has longer wings, a longer tail, a red head (in adults), soars with wings held up in a V, and flaps very infrequently.

One-on-one, a Black Vulture can be dominated by the slightly larger Turkey Vulture. But, Black Vultures rarely travel alone. Flocks of Black Vultures can quickly take over a carcass and drive the more solitary Turkey Vultures away.

(Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds (Online)).