Black Vulture

The American black vulture, also called in Spanish sucha, zopilote, chulo, chula, golero, chombo, gallinazo, gallinazo común, gallinazo de cabeza negra, gallinazo negro, jote cabeza negra, gallote, jote de cabeza negra, zamuro or zopilote negro, is the only species in the genus Coragyps. It is a Cathartiformes bird — although some classifications place it in the order Ciconiiformes — and one of the most abundant members of the family Cathartidae. The National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) uses the order Cathartiformes and the family Cathartidae for the taxonomic classification of the species. Despite its similar appearance and names, this species is not closely related to Aegypius monachus. That species belongs to the subfamily of the Old World vultures (Aegypiinae), which is in turn part of the family Accipitridae, which includes the eagles, kites, hawks and harriers, while the American species is part of the family of the New World vultures (Cathartidae).