Black Vulture (also known as the American Black Vulture)

A soot-black bird with a naked, wrinkled grey head. In flight, it is distinguished from the Turkey Vulture by its shorter tail, broader wings, and distinctive white patches at the wingtips. It has a heavy, flapping flight style and often soars in large groups called kettles.

Uniformly charcoal black to deep sooty grey with a subtle matte finish; dorsal surface shows a faint oily sheen; ventral (underside) surface is slightly paler grey; rachis is dark but transitions to a lighter, creamy tan at the calamus (quill)

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs throughout the majority of the vane for flight rigidity; some plumulaceous (downy) barbs at the very base of the calamus for insulation

Thick, sturdy rachis that is dark on the upper side and pale underneath; significant curvature toward the body; barb density is high and uniform to maintain a solid air-resistant surface

Stiff and rugged; the surface is somewhat coarse to the touch compared to waterbirds; lacks the 'velvet' silent-flight adaptation of owls; noticeably matte under direct light

Outer wing (Primary). The extreme asymmetry and stiff rachis are diagnostic of a primary feather responsible for generating lift and thrust

Deep charcoal color without banding; extreme asymmetry of the vane; pale/creamy calamus; distinctive notch on the leading edge for air slotting

Highly adaptable: found in open landscapes, forests, wetlands, agricultural areas, and increasingly in urban or suburban environments where human refuse is available

Resident year-round from the southeastern United States through Central America and across nearly all of South America, including all regions of Brazil

Scavenger/Decomposer; plays a vital role in cleaning the environment by removing carrion and preventing the spread of diseases such as anthrax and rabies

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) feathers are more brownish-black and have a silvery-grey underside throughout the wing. Crested Caracara feathers are banded/mottled. Neotropic Cormorant feathers are glossier and narrower.

Unlike Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures have a poor sense of smell and often follow their cousins to carcasses. They are highly social and are known to feed in large, organized groups with a strict social hierarchy.

In Mayan mythology, vultures were seen as symbols of transformation and cleansing. Historically used in some indigenous South American rituals, though less common than Macaw feathers due to their somber color.

Look near carcasses, large roosting trees (often near water or tall structures), or urban dumpsters in Brazil. Primary feathers are usually dropped during the summer molt.

Good condition; minor fraying at the tip and trailing edge suggests natural wear from flight; the calamus is fully formed and clear, indicating a naturally molted feather

Find in Brasil