Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Hello all, My husband and I saw five very large black birds in a grassy area near a bush. They were black with large round brown areas on the sides of their heads, around their eyes. The brown areas were similar to an owl's (but that is the extent of the similarity to owls). They were about the size of small vultures. They seem to be scrounging for some garbage. We saw them well with our binoculars but unfortunately we were too far away to get any pictures. Anyone have any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 My first guess would be black domestic Muscovy Ducks. If that's not what they were, then I'd like some more details, like: Beak shape/size and color? Long or short necks? Long or short tails? Horizontal or upright posture? Were they walking, hopping, flying? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 The beaks were pointy, fairly small, and black. The necks were short; they were not curved as vultures are (which we initially thought they were), though their bodies were vulture-shaped, not large-breasted like ducks. I believe they were horizontal, though this may have been because they were scrounging in the bushes for either garbage or something dead. Some of them were flying up from the ground, but not high or in flight, but flying up but then back down, as they were focusing on something in the foliage. Unfortunately I didn't see them take off when they left. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 (edited) Hi Tess! Welcome to Whatbird! Did they appear more interested in the foliage itself, as if there may have been berries other food on the bush, or were they focused on the ground underneath it? Common Grackles, maybe? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle/id Edited March 7, 2020 by Charlie Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 25 minutes ago, Tess said: The beaks were pointy, fairly small, and black. The necks were short; they were not curved as vultures are (which we initially thought they were), though their bodies were vulture-shaped, not large-breasted like ducks. I believe they were horizontal, though this may have been because they were scrounging in the bushes for either garbage or something dead. Some of them were flying up from the ground, but not high or in flight, but flying up but then back down, as they were focusing on something in the foliage. Unfortunately I didn't see them take off when they left. Our vultures don't really have curved necks like a lot of other vultures. Have you researched Turkey Vultures or Black Vultures for similarities? Vultures do tend to fly up and down like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said: Hi Tess! Welcome to Whatbird! Did they appear more interested in the foliage itself, as if there may have been berries other food on the bush, or were they focused on the ground underneath it? Common Grackles, maybe? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle/id They were focused on the ground underneath. They seemed to be trying to get at garbage or dead animals, or whatever was there. They were much larger than grackles; they were about the size of small turkeys (but not turkeys). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Melierax said: Our vultures don't really have curved necks like a lot of other vultures. Have you researched Turkey Vultures or Black Vultures for similarities? Vultures do tend to fly up and down like that. I did look up turkey vultures and other vultures, as we originally thought that's what they were. These had no red coloring on them. The unique feature was a very large brown circular patch around the eye, covering most of the side of the head. I'm unable to find any birds at all that have that feature! Baffled in NJ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 @Tess I don't mean to push, but are you sure it was not a Black Vulture? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Vulture If still no, I hove no other thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 18 minutes ago, Kevin said: @Tess I don't mean to push, but are you sure it was not a Black Vulture? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Vulture If still no, I hove no other thoughts. This does look similar. "Slightly smaller than a turkey vulture" would fit. Perhaps some Black Vultures have circular patches around the eyes. Oh well, maybe they'll come back so that I can get a picture. Thanks to all for your help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 American Crow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 Ok, they returned and I was able to snap some photos. They do look like Black Vultures. My binoculars were mistaken ? but the camera doesn't lie! They are bold; let me get very close. Experts, what say you? Black Vultures? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesome55dove Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Welcome to Whatbird!! The birds with red faces in the third picture are Turkey Vultures. No comment on the others. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Mix of both! Two Turkey Vultures and the one with the black head is a Black Vulture. If it was an immature Turkey Vulture it would have not have the same extent of unfeathered area, and the body would still have a brownish hue. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted March 7, 2020 Author Share Posted March 7, 2020 12 minutes ago, Melierax said: Mix of both! Two Turkey Vultures and the one with the black head is a Black Vulture. If it was an immature Turkey Vulture it would have not have the same extent of unfeathered area, and the body would still have a brownish hue. Now that I take another look, yes there are two types! The Turkey Vultures (aptly named I see) have red around the head and the feathers are mixed colors, whereas the Black Vultures are almost all black, with grey around the head and white under the wing which can be seen when flying. I'm fascinated; I didn't know they flocked together. (Now comes further investigation of the big question - what are they doing back there ?) You learn something new every day...thank you everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 12 minutes ago, Tess said: (Now comes further investigation of the big question - what are they doing back there ?) Definitely eating something. That many vultures don't remain on the ground very long for any other reason. The Turkey Vultures also have white under the wings, even more than the Blacks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Mix of both! Two Turkey Vultures and the one with the black head is a Black Vulture. If it was an immature Turkey Vulture it would have not have the same extent of unfeathered area, and the body would still have a brownish hue. agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melierax Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Vultures are extremely gregarious. I most often see them flying in large groups or roosting together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.