Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
BLACK VULTURE – (Species Account Blog #86)
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Cathartiformes,
- FAMILY: Cathartidae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Coragyps atratus
The Black Vulture is a large, uniform black raptor with silvery patches on undersides of wingtips. In flight, broad, rounded wings with distinct “fingers” are held flat like a board. Notice very short tail and small black head. Soars in flocks, often with other vultures and hawks. Flight style is distinctive; bat-like, strong snappy wingbeats followed by short glides.(from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
In flight, Black Vulture is best distinguished from the Turkey Vulture and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture by its very short tail, whitish patch on undersurface of outer primaries, and slightly smaller size. When soaring, it tends to hold its wings horizontally, whereas Cathartes vultures tend to hold their wings slightly raised, forming a shallow V-shaped profile.
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
In Costa Rica we observed Black Vultures at most low to middle elevation areas throughout.
PHOTO GALLERY
**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.
- A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
- PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Reflections of the Natural World 