From Opus

Cathartes aura

Photo by Vogelman

Identification

• Large and black
• Primaries spread during flight (resembling fingers)
• Flight feathers appear silvery below
• Rocking flight with wings held in dihedral (v-shaped)
• Naked pink head

Similar Species

In flight, may resemble Black Vulture

Distribution

North, Central and South America. Breeds in the south of Canada from southern British Columbia to southern Ontario, almost throughout the USA except the far north-east, in Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, and in South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands but rare or absent from much of eastern Argentina. Scarce in the far north but increasing and expanding range. A summer visitor to much of North American range but resident further south. Northern birds winter in the southern USA from central California to Florida and southwards.

Taxonomy

Four subspecies recognised: aura from Canada to Costa Rica and Cuba, septentrionalis in eastern North America, ruficollis in Trinidad and from Panama to northern Argentina and jota from Colombia to Patagonia and the Falkland Islands.

Habitat

A wide range of habitats from deserts, plains and mountains to forest and jungle. Often scavenges at refuse-tips and along roadsides and shorelines.

Behaviour

Voice

Hisses and grunts given at the nest

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