# What kind of vulture is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 17, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631 "2007-02-17T17:41:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/1 "2007-02-17T17:41:53Z")
On the way to the Post Office this morning to mail out a couple of packages, I saw a few of [these vultures](http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/7/2/17/f_vulturem_638c298.jpg) picking at something dead on the side of the road. I’ve never seen them before; heck, I didn’t even know we had any vultures in this area. I had to pull over and get a shot of one of them before they flew away. Anyone know what kind they are? ---
**Author:** ![Vevila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@Vevila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vevila)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/2 "2007-02-17T17:49:20Z")
It appears to be an [American Black Vulture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Black_Vulture). Added: [Story](http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Black_vulture_population_targeted_for_reduction_at_Virginia_boat_launch) about problems with them in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/3 "2007-02-17T17:49:33Z")
[Black vulture?](http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Raptors/BLVU03.jpg) From here. [http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/BLVU.html](http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/BLVU.html) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/4 "2007-02-17T18:03:29Z")
Sure looks like it. Thanks guys and gals. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/5 "2007-02-17T18:55:06Z")
Definitely a Black Vulture. They have a more southerly [range](http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm96/map617/ra3260.html) than the more widespread [Turkey Vulture](http://www.johnsonmill.com/images/Turkey%20Vulture%20reduced.jpg) (aka Turkey Buzzard), which is distinguished by its red head (in the adult; the young have [grayish heads](http://www.birdersworld.com/objects/images/brdpw040822.jpg) like the Black Vulture) and brownish plumage. They are the only vultures in the US besides the very rare California Condor. Black Vultures (and Turkey Vultures) are very common here in Panama City and function as an informal sanitation department. I can almost always see a few from my window. More fun facts on vultures: [Why do vultures circle dead stuff?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mvulture.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/6 "2007-02-17T20:26:18Z")
The short answer? Butt-ugly. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-vulture-is-this/392631/7 "2007-02-17T20:53:05Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] The short answer? Butt-ugly. [/QUOTE] I think they’re cute, in a Charles Addams sort of way. 🙂 They’re just part of nature’s clean-up crew.