Naturalist Notes: Black Vulture

The Black Vulture is relatively smaller than the Turkey Vulture. It is mainly black, except for the wing tips (fingers) which are whitish in color and very distinctive, especially in flight. Their heads are also featherless and black in color.

Besides feeding on carrion and occasional fruits, they are sometimes known to attack live prey, particularly newborns like the hatchlings of Leatherback turtles as they emerge from the sand. This species is more often observed in large groups.

 © Denise Etienne