Driving southeastward from Missouri today, I encountered the first flock of black vultures in southern Kentucky. Unlike their larger cousin, the turkey vulture, black vultures are primarily found across the southeastern quadrant of the U.S. and southward through Mexico, Central America and much of South America; in summer, they may be seen as far north as the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region.
Since they hold their broad wings in a horizontal position and take to the air with powerful wing beats, black vultures may initially be mistaken for eagles; their bare gray heads, black plumage and the prominent white patches beneath their wing tips aid identification. Highly social, these scavengers soar above open woodlands to search for carrion; since their sense of smell is inferior to that of turkey vultures, they often join their larger, leaner cousins, sharing if not stealing the carcasses that they locate. Black vultures may also scavenge at landfills and are commonly encountered at coastal ports where they dine on fish scraps.
Monogamous, black vultures may live for 25 years in the wild and tend to remain in family groups. While they prefer to roost in trees, these vultures nest on the ground, often beneath the cover of dense foliage, a rock ledge, a cave entrance or an abandoned structure. One to three chicks are generally produced each spring and are fed by both parents throughout their first summer.
