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 Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, based on 265 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus
Variable Hawk
Buteo polyosoma
White-throated Hawk
Buteo albigula
Rufous-tailed Hawk
Buteo ventralis
White-tailed Kite
Elanus leucurus
Harris' Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus
Cinereous Harrier
Circus cinereus
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Geranoaetus melanoleucus
📅 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 Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Black Vulture sighting in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, based on 265 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Vulture in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Black Vulture in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park in our monthly data.