Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Black Vulture
This big black scavenger is identified by a shot stubby tail and white patch toward the wing tip. It has a gray head. Mostly seen in the southeast of the United States. Avoids higher mountains, scarce in open plains. Usually seen soaring in the sky or perched on dead trees, posts, power poles, or on the ground. The Black Vulture has a wingspan less than 5 feet.