black vulture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialized/Technical
Quick answer
What does “black vulture” mean?
A large scavenging bird of prey (Coragyps atratus), with black plumage, a bare greyish-black head, and found in the Americas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large scavenging bird of prey (Coragyps atratus), with black plumage, a bare greyish-black head, and found in the Americas.
The term can also be used metaphorically to describe a person who preys on or profits from the misfortunes of others. In broader ornithological contexts, it can refer to several similar-looking Old World vultures like the Cinereous vulture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The species is native to the Americas and is not found in the UK. The term is used in American English and international ornithology. In British English, it is a descriptive name for a specific foreign species.
Connotations
Primarily neutral and zoological. No significant difference in connotation between regions.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English due to the bird's geographic range. Very low frequency in general UK discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “black vulture” in a Sentence
The black vulture [verb of sight/movement: soared, circled, landed]A black vulture [verb of feeding: scavenged, fed on, ripped apart] the carcass.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black vulture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A. Not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A. Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A. Not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A. Not standardly used attributively.
American English
- N/A. Not standardly used attributively.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and conservation biology texts.
Everyday
Used descriptively when sighting the bird, especially in rural or wilderness areas of the Americas.
Technical
Standard term in ornithological field guides and scientific literature for the species Coragyps atratus.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black vulture”
- Capitalizing it as a proper name (Black Vulture) when not at the start of a sentence. The species name is not typically capitalized.
- Confusing it with the 'Turkey Vulture' (Cathartes aura), a different American species with a red head.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In some parts of the southern United States, people colloquially call black vultures 'buzzards'. However, scientifically, buzzards are a different group of birds (Buteo hawks).
No, they are not aggressive towards live humans. They are scavengers and pose little threat, though they can be a nuisance to livestock in very rare cases.
The turkey vulture has a red, featherless head and holds its wings in a shallow 'V' when soaring. The black vulture has a black/grey head, shorter wings, and flaps more often in flight.
In a general descriptive sense, it can refer to similar-looking dark vultures (e.g., Cinereous vulture), but the primary and precise referent is the New World species Coragyps atratus.
A large scavenging bird of prey (Coragyps atratus), with black plumage, a bare greyish-black head, and found in the Americas.
Black vulture is usually specialized/technical in register.
Black vulture: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈvʌl.tʃə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈvʌl.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. Not a common idiom source.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BLACK plumage, acts like a VULTURE' (scavenger). It's the common black scavenger vulture of the Americas.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE DOMAIN: Scavenging bird. TARGET DOMAIN: A person who exploits the suffering of others (e.g., 'He circled the failing company like a black vulture').
Practice
Quiz
What is a key distinguishing feature of the black vulture (Coragyps atratus)?