Picture of the day (01 May 2008):The American Black Vulture

[istanbul]

The American Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) is a New World vulture which lives from the southeastern United States to South America. Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Eurasian Black Vulture. With a wingspan of 1.5 m (5 ft) the American Black Vulture is a large bird but is relatively small for a vulture. It has black plumage, a featherless, grayish-black head and neck, and a short, hooked beak.

Photograph: 13 December 2005 by Mdf

[Cryxellis]

The first time I saw the photo I thought it was some kind of endangered species. But I didn't expect that there was a small vulture.