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American Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
20.5101, -86.9489
Field Notes
Description:
The Black Vulture's lack of feathers on the head enables the bird to insert his head into carrion without messing its feathers. In natural settings, the Black Vulture eats mainly carrion. In areas populated by humans, it may scavenge at garbage dumps, but also takes eggs and decomposing plant material and can kill or injure new-born or incapacitated mammals including livestock & deer.
Like other vultures, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.
Habitat:
Southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, South America. Moist lowland forests, shrublands and grasslands, wetlands and swamps, pastures, and heavily degraded former forests. Rarely seen in mountainous areas.
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