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Post by oldindigosilverback on Jan 16, 2023 6:31:04 GMT -5
 Black VultureCOMMON NAME: Black Vulture SCIENTIFIC NAME: Coragyps atratus TYPE: Birds SIZE: Length: 25 inches; wingspan: 57 inches ABOUT THE BLACK VULTUREThe gregarious black vulture roosts, feeds, and soars in groups, often mixed with turkey vultures. A carrion feeder that will bully a turkey vulture away from a carcass, it occasionally kills smaller live prey. Polytypic (3 ssp.; nominate in North America). Length 25"; wingspan 57". IdentificationAdult: glossy black feathers can show iridescence in the right light. Whitish inner primaries often hard to see on the folded wing. Whitish legs contrast with dark gray head color. Skin of head wrinkled; bill dark at base and tipped ivory or yellowish. Juvenile: black body and wing feathers usually duller, less iridescent. Skin of head smooth, darker black than an adult. Flight: conspicuous white or silvery patches at base of primaries that contrast with black wings, body, and tail. Whitish legs extend almost to tip of relatively short tail. Soars and glides with wings held in a slight dihedral. If seen at a distance, the quick, shallow, choppy wingbeats interspersed with glides are usually enough for an identification. Similar SpeciesThe turkey vulture shows silvery inner secondaries and a pronounced dihedral while in flight, along with a deeper, more fluid wingbeat. VoiceHisses when threatened. Status and DistributionAbundant in the Southeast, expanding up the East Coast into southern New England. Less common in southern Great Plains, local in southern Arizona. Breeding: nests in a sheltered area on the ground, including abandoned buildings. Migration: sedentary, northern breeders, may migrate with turkey vultures to warmer winter territory. Vagrant: casual to California, northern New England, and southern Canada. PopulationThe species adapts well to human presence, feeding on roadkills and at garbage dumps. www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/b/black-vulture/ |
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Post by oldindigosilverback on Jan 16, 2023 6:32:02 GMT -5
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Post by Gorilla king on Jan 30, 2023 8:34:03 GMT -5
Intra-and interspecific kleptoparasitism in the American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus (Aves: Cathartidae) in a garbage dump in Ecuador
Abstract and Figures
Kleptoparasitism is recognized as an important ethological feeding strategy that enables many animals to feed on a limited resource. Research on avian scavengers is significant because their consumption of carrion and food discarded by humans helps reduce foci of infection due to animals that die from disease, thereby preventing the spread of infection through the ecosystem. Scavenging birds provide key environmental and hygienic services valued at billions of dollars and here we document, analyze, and discuss the first cases of inter-and intraspecific kleptoparasitism reported in the American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus within the context of Calceta garbage dump (Manabí, Ecuador). The sampling work was documented with photos and videos over a period of 69 hours. A total of 48 events of intraspecific kleptoparasitism and 19 of interspecific kleptoparasitism were recorded. The intraspecific kleptoparasitism was triggered by the discharge of large amounts of waste from trucks, while the interspecific kleptoparasitism occurred when the Black Vultures took advantage of domestic dogs and their olfactory abilities to accurately locate food and then steal it. The efficiency of interspecific kleptoparasitism indicates that cooperative groups with more vultures are more likely to succeed in obtaining food. The data suggest that there is an optimal size beyond which larger group sizes will begin to incur foraging costs. This acquired behavior shows a high tolerance to anthropogenic conditions and illustrates the great adaptive phenotypic plasticity of this species.
Intraspecific kleptoparasitism between two Black Vultures. Circle: the Black Vulture at the bottom finds food and the vulture at the top pounces and steals it from its beak. Photo: E. Richard. Cleptoparasitisme intraespecífic entre dos zopilots. Cercle: l'exemplar de baix va trobar menjar i el de dalt de la imatge es va llançar per treure-li de la boca. Foto: E.Richard.
Intraspecific kleptoparasitism between two Black Vultures (afterwards two more joined in the struggle). Circle: the bottom vulture finds food (apparently a gut) and another Black Vulture pounces on it from the air and steals it from its beak. Photo: E. Richard. Cleptoparasitisme intraespecífic entre dos zopilots (després dos més es van afegir al forcejament). Cercle: l'exemplar de baix va trobar menjar,pel que sembla una tripa i un altre voltor s'hi va llançar des de l'aire per a treure-li de la boca. Foto: E.Richard.
www.researchgate.net/publication/366662649_Intra-and_interspecific_kleptoparasitism_in_the_American_Black_Vulture_Coragyps_atratus_Aves_Cathartidae_in_a_garbage_dump_in_Ecuador
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