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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-New World Vultures (Order Cathartiformes)

-New World Vultures (Family Cathartidae)

-Genus Coragyps

-Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)


The Coragyps atratus, commonly known as the black vulture, has a wide range that covers much of the eastern and central United States, as well as parts of Mexico and Central America. They typically inhabit open areas, including grasslands, woodlands, and agricultural fields. Their diet consists mainly of carrion, although they will also feed on eggs, young birds, and other small prey. During mating, they perform elaborate aerial displays, and nest in tree cavities or on the ground in an abandoned nest of a larger bird. Their behavior is quite sociable, often seen in groups of up to hundreds of individuals. They are easily recognizable due to their black plumage and featherless head and neck.

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

Diet

  • Primarily carrion, including dead mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

  • Also feeds on eggs, nestlings, insects, stranded marine animals, and occasionally small live prey.

  • Often locates food by following Turkey Vultures, relying more on keen eyesight than on its sense of smell.

Range

  • Found from the southeastern United States through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America to central Chile and Uruguay.

  • Widespread throughout Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural areas, towns, cities, mangroves, coastal regions, and other open habitats.

  • Frequently roosts and nests on cliffs, trees, buildings, bridges, and communication towers.

Male / Female

  • Male: Glossy black plumage with a featherless dark gray to black head, short square tail, and broad wings with distinctive silvery-white patches near the wingtips. Slightly smaller than the female.

  • Female: Nearly identical in appearance but generally larger and heavier.

  • Sexes cannot be reliably distinguished in the field except by subtle size differences when seen together.

  • Size

    • Length: 56–74 cm (22–29 in)

    • Wingspan: 133–167 cm (52–66 in)

    • Weight: 1.2–2.3 kg (2.6–5.1 lb)

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