Black Vulture

The head is gray. Seen only in flight, the underside of the wings are black with a large silvery patch at the base of the feathers at the tip (the primaries).

A group of vultures is called a “committee”.

22″ to 29″ in length

52″ to 66″ wingspan

Forest openings

Rare stray in Minnesota

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Here’s a few more pictures. Thank you. This was the first time I ever saw one of these birds.

Black Vulture

I was wondering if these are common in Minnesota. I live in Harris Mn and saw this this morning.

Could you tell me what kind of bird this is? We have a few up in Lindstrom.

Black Vulture 01
Sep 9, 2022

Black Vulture 02
Sep 9, 2022

Black Vulture - crashes picnic
CTnaturalist

Black Vultures
Lori Oberhofer

American Black Vultures often called Buzzard
pwalpar

Close Encounter with a Black Vulture
thetopseven

Location: Harris, Mn

Here’s a few more pictures. Thank you. This was the first time I ever saw one of these birds.

Location: Harris, Mn

I was wondering if these are common in Minnesota. I live in Harris Mn and saw this this morning.

John Valo
3/24/2025

Black Vulture is still considered a rare stray in Minnesota. As of 3/24/2025, the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union has just 13 records; Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) has 8 records; DiscoverLife has 4 records; the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (Bell Museum) has no records; iNaturalist has 3 observations, all of the same bird on the same day at the same location—1 distinct occurrence; and eBird has 18 distinct occurrences.

Location: Corliss township North of Perham Mn

Two of our live small outdoor animals( rabbit & duck) have been swooped up by Black vultures. They have been spotted by us trying to take a chicken as well.

Location: I35 1mile south of sandstone exit 191

was eating a deer carcass on the side of the freeway, drove right by it and it didnt even move.

Jennifer Koerner
9/15/2020

Location: Lindstrom MN

Could you tell me what kind of bird this is? We have a few up in Lindstrom.

It is hard to tell from these photos if the head is gray (Black Vulture) or red (Turkey Vulture). The former is rare in Minnesota, the latter is very common.

Location: Lindstrom MN

Location: Coon Rapids, Minnesota

I was out this morning with my two pups, and I heard like a screaming sound, kind of like the seagull sounding.  I live between highway 10 - Coon Rapids and the Mississippi River, where many times eagles fly over to their nest off Hwy 10 by Lowes in Coon Rapids from the river.  This morning I saw the big eagle flying pretty low, so I watched it come over to my neighbors roof next door and land, and I heard the screaming sounds, so I thought he maybe got a bird, but I was wrong, I saw two of the black vulture looking birds screaming at that eagle and they actually were attacking the eagle, of course I had no phone with me, I was only concerned about my pups.  It was amazing to watch them, yet I was very nervous for my dogs.  I will make sure I bring my phone with me each time now.

Location: Prior Lake

We had an American Black Vulture perch on our deck rail in Prior Lake on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.  This was not a turkey vulture because the head was all black and wing tips were gray.  Have you heard of other sightings in the area?

According to the Minnesota Ornathological Union (MOU) occurrence map, Black Vulture is a rare stray to Minnesota. Only six sightings (or sightings at only six locations) have been documented by the MOU.