06/01/2026
Cute or Creepy?
For me the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) lands squarely in "Cute". Many people see vultures and just see "gross" carrion eaters or ominous signs of doom, but they really are so much more than that. They're intelligent, social, and an integral part of nature's cleanup crew.
I was lucky enough to observe a flock while out on our kayak and got some nice shots of a less common behavior. When the flock took off to relocate, one of the members fell into the creek. We followed it to make sure it got to land, and then got to observe a member of the flock coming back to check on them!
Fun Black Vulture facts:
👯 They are highly social and roost and eat together in groups comprised of family members. They have communal roosting spots that serve as a meetup point where they socialize with family and lead other members of their flock to food if they weren't successful scavenging.
💍Black vultures are monogamous and mate for life! They stay together year round and raise 1-2 chicks each year who they continue to care for up to eight months after hatching. They nest on the ground but will decorate their nesting sites with items like bottle caps and brightly colored plastic.
💆🏻♀️ Black vultures have been observed preening caracaras, and even removing ticks from capybaras and tapirs!
👀 While turkey vultures use scent to find food, black vultures rely on eyesight to spot dinner. Often they will actually follow turkey vultures to a carcass (shoving the more solitary turkey vultures off in the process). They will also predate on small animals like lizards, opossums, skunks, and even occasionally unprotected newborn livestock. In areas where humans have encroached, black vultures can be found scavenging refuse.
🚿 Black vultures, like other vultures, will actually bathe after eating to remove any blood and viscera, keeping their feathers clean and in good condition.
-----------------------------------
What misunderstood animal is your favorite?
