Black Vulture

scavenger · Americas · super senses

Amazing sense of smell. Black vultures have an incredible ability to smell dead animals from far away, which helps them find food in forests and open areas where other birds would miss meals.

Huge range across Americas. These birds live from the northeastern United States all the way down to Peru, Chile, and Uruguay, making them one of the most widespread scavengers in the Western Hemisphere.

Team hunters and feeders. Black vultures love hanging out in large groups while they search for and eat carrion, working together to find meals across their territory.

Not European cousins. Even though they're called black vultures like some Old World vultures in Europe and Asia, they're actually completely different birds from a different vulture family.

Open forest dwellers. They prefer areas with scattered trees and open spaces like chaparral and subtropical forests, places where they can spot and reach food more easily.