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The black vulture (''Coragyps atratus'') also known as the American black vulture, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. Although a common and widespread species, it has a somewhat more restricted distribution than its compatriot, the turkey vulture, which breeds well into Canada and south to Tierra del Fuego. Despite the similar name and appearance, this species is unrelated to the Eurasian black vulture. The latter species is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae (which includes eagles, hawks, kites and harriers), whereas the American species is a New World vulture. It is the only extant member of the genus ''Coragyps'', which is in the family Cathartidae. It inhabits relatively open areas which provide scattered forests or shrublands. With a wingspan of , the black vulture is a large bird though relatively small for a vulture. It has black plumage, a featherless, grayish-black head and neck, and a short, hooked beak. The black vulture is a scavenger and feeds on carrion, but will also eat eggs or kill newborn animals. In areas populated by humans, it also feeds at garbage dumps. It finds its meals either by using its keen eyesight or by following other (New World) vultures, which possess a keen sense of smell. Lacking a syrinx—the vocal organ of birds—its only vocalizations are grunts or low hisses.〔 It lays its eggs in caves or hollow trees or on the bare ground, and generally raises two chicks each year, which it feeds by regurgitation. In the United States, the vulture receives legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.〔 This vulture also appeared in Mayan codices. ==Taxonomy== The common name "vulture" is derived from the Latin word ''vulturus'', which means "tearer" and is a reference to its feeding habits. The species name, ''atratus'', means "clothed in black,"〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Whitaker, William )〕 from the Latin ''ater'' 'black'. The genus name, ''Coragyps'' means "raven-vulture", from a contraction of the Greek ''corax''/κόραξ and ''gyps''/γὺψ for the respective birds. The family name, ''Cathartidae'', means "purifier" and is also derived from the Greek ''kathartēs''/καθαρτης.〔 The exact taxonomic placement of the black vulture and the remaining six species of New World vultures remains unclear.〔 Though both are similar in appearance and have similar ecological roles, the New World and Old World vultures evolved from different ancestors in different parts of the world. Just how different the two are is currently under debate, with some earlier authorities suggesting that the New World vultures are more closely related to storks.〔Sibley, Charles G. and Monroe, Burt L. (1990). ''(Distribution and Taxonomy of the Birds of the World )''. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-04969-2. Retrieved 2007-04-11.〕 More recent authorities maintain their overall position in the order Falconiformes along with the Old World vultures,〔Sibley, Charles G., and Jon E. Ahlquist. (1991). ''(Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution )''. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-04085-7. Retrieved 2007-04-11.〕 or place them in their own order, Cathartiformes. The South American Classification Committee has removed the New World vultures from Ciconiiformes and instead placed them in ''incertae sedis'', but notes that a move to Falconiformes or Cathartiformes is possible.〔Remsen, J. V., Jr.; C. D. Cadena; A. Jaramillo; M. Nores; J. F. Pacheco; M. B. Robbins; T. S. Schulenberg; F. G. Stiles; D. F. Stotz & K. J. Zimmer. (2007). (''A classification of the bird species of South America.'' ) South American Classification Committee. Retrieved 2007-10-15〕 There are three subspecies of black vulture: *''C. a. atratus'', named by the German ornithologist Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1793, is known as the North American black vulture. It is the nominate subspecies. It is approximately the same size as ''C. a. foetens'', but its plumage is not as dark. Its range stretches from northern Mexico through Texas and the southern United States north to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.〔United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fact Sheet (January 2003) (Managing Vulture Damage ). aphis.usda.gov〕 *''C. a. brasiliensis'', named by Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte in 1850, is known as the Southern American black vulture. It is smaller than ''C. a. atratus'' and ''C. a. foetens''. The light markings on the undersides of the primaries are whiter and broader than those of the other subspecies, and the underwing coverts are lighter than those of ''C. a. foetens''.〔 It is found in Central America and northern South America. To the south, the range extends to the coastal regions of Peru on the west and the lowlands of Bolivia on the east. To the north, it stretches to Sonora in western Mexico and San Luis Potosí in eastern Mexico. It is not found in high-altitude regions. *''C. a. foetens'', named by Martin Lichtenstein in 1817, is known as the Andean black vulture. It is approximately the same size as ''C. a. atratus''.〔 The markings on the undersides of the primaries are smaller than those of the other subspecies, and the underwing coverts are darker. It is found in the Andes range, from northern Ecuador through Peru, northern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the lowlands of Chile.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Black vulture」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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