Black Vulture

 

With sooty black plumage, a bare black head, and neat white stars under the wingtips, Black Vultures are almost dapper. Whereas Turkey Vultures are lanky birds with teetering flight, Black Vultures are compact birds with broad wings, short tails, and powerful wingbeats. The two species often associate: the Black Vulture makes up for its poor sense of smell by following Turkey Vultures to carcasses. Highly social birds with fierce family loyalty, Black Vultures share food with relatives, feeding young for months after they’ve fledged. Cornell All About Birds

Our own misadventures with Black Vultures were in Everglades National Park. At the trailheads the park supplies tarps and tiedowns for visitors to cover their vehicles for protection from the vultures. We’ve witnessed vultures ripping apart anything rubber on the uncovered vehicles. Windshield wipers, window trim, moldings, really anything rubber gets torn apart.