In comparison with the Turkey Vulture, the Black Vulture flaps its wings more frequently during flight.
The Black Vulture locates food either by sight or by following New World Vultures of the genus Cathartes to carcasses.
King Vultures and Black Vultures, which lack the ability to smell carrion, follow them to carcasses.
The Black Vulture is a fairly large bird of prey, measuring 56–74 cm (22–29 in) in length, with a 1.33–1.67
As the Pleistocene and current Black Vultures form an evolutionary continuum rather than splitting into two or more lineages, some include the Pleistocene taxa in C. atratus.
However, various eagles may kill vultures in conflicts and even the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, a slightly smaller bird than the vulture, have preyed on adult black vultures.
While some of the glyphs clearly show the Black Vulture's open nostril and hooked beak, some are assumed to be this species because they are vulture-like but lack the King Vulture's knob and are painted black.
In natural settings, the Black Vulture eats mainly carrion.
These vultures—the Turkey Vulture, the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, and the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture— forage by smell, an ability which is uncommon in the avian world.
The Black Vulture is considered a threat by cattle ranchers due to its predation on newborn cattle.
In the United States it is illegal to take, kill, or possess Black Vultures and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to US$15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.
The Black Vulture appears in a variety of Maya hieroglyphics in Mayan codices.
Like the Turkey Vulture, this vulture is often seen standing in a spread-winged stance.
