Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyCathartidae (New World Vultures)
- GenusCoragyps
- SpeciesCoragyps atratus (Black Vulture)
The black vulture (Coragyps atratus), also known as the American black vulture, Mexican vulture, zopilote, urubu, or gallinazo, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the northeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America, and common throughout Brazil where it can be seen in large scavenging groups. 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 all the way south to Tierra del Fuego. It is the only extant member of the genus Coragyps, which is in the family Cathartidae. Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is not closely related to the Eurasian black vulture, an Old World vulture, of the family Accipitridae (which includes raptors like the eagles, hawks, kites, and harriers). For ease of locating animal corpses (their primary source of sustenance), black vultures tend to inhabit relatively open areas with scattered trees, such as chaparral, in addition to subtropical forested areas and parts of the Brazilian pantanal. With a wingspan of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), the black vulture is an imposing bird, though relatively small for a vulture, let alone a raptor. Wikipedia →
50–60% of wildlife watchers report a Black Vulture sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 657 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Chagres National Park
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Cathartes burrovianus
American Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Black Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus tyrannus
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Double-toothed Kite
Harpagus bidentatus
White Hawk
Leucopternis albicollis
Short-tailed Hawk
Buteo brachyurus
Solitary Eagle
Harpyhaliaetus solitarius
Roadside Hawk
Rupornis magnirostris
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black Vulture in Chagres National Park?
About 56% of wildlife watchers report a Black Vulture sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 657 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Vulture in Chagres National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Black Vulture in Chagres National Park in our monthly data.