Black Vultures Coragyps atratus are one species of the many vulture species that feed primarily on the flesh of dead animals. It is common to see Black Vultures congregated on a roadside feasting on road-kill. Like most vultures the Black Vulture does not have feathers on the head, an advantage given that they need to reach into decaying animals to remove dead flesh, and if the head were covered with feathers, they would be difficult to keep clean.
Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura is the other species of vulture found in the U.S., with its red colored featherless head. The two species are easily differentiated even in flight at great distance, because of the distinctly different shape and appearance.
Note the dark body and wing linings of this Turkey Vulture which contrast with the silvery almost translucent flight feathers.
Black Vultures have patches near the wing tips and have very short square tails.
There is some evidence that Turkey Vultures prefer smaller dead animals, and Black Vultures congregate at larger carcasses like dead livestock, but collectively most agree that vulures help keep our planet cleaned up from rotting carcasses.
The next time you see a vulture, think favorably about their key role in the ecosystem.
Good birding!
