Black Vulture vs Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

Huge1.9 kgUrban

The black vulture is a fairly large scavenger, measuring 56–74 cm (22–29 in) in length, with a 1.33–1.67 m (52–66 in) wingspan. Weight for black vultures from North America and the Andes ranges from 1.6 to 3 kg (3.5 to 6.6 lb) but in the smaller vultures of the tropical lowlands it is 1.18–1.94 kg (2.6–4.3 lb). Fifty vultures in Texas were found to average 2.15 kg (4.7 lb) while 119 birds in Venezuela were found to average 1.64 kg (3.6 lb). The extended wing bone measures 38.6–45 cm (15.2–17.7 in), the shortish tail measures 16–21 cm (6.3–8.3 in) and the relatively long tarsus measures 7–8.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin · CC BY 2.0

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Large935 gGrassland

This is the lightest and smallest of the extant New World vultures despite sometimes measuring at least as long and longer winged than black vultures. The lesser yellow-headed vulture is 53–66 cm (21–26 in) in length, with a wingspan of 150–165 cm (59–65 in) and a tail length of 19–24 cm (7.5–9.4 in). Its weight ranges from 0.95 to 1.55 kg (2.1 to 3.4 lb). Its plumage is black with a green sheen. The throat and the sides of the head are featherless. The head and neck are bare of feathers, and the skin is yellow, with a reddish forehead and nape and a gray-blue crown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Arjan Haverkamp from Amsterdam, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black Vulture and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.