Identify an ugly buzzard or vultures?

Question

I'm curious of the actual name of a scavenger bird that may not be a buzzard at all. I've always called it an ugly buzzard. They are often seen in packs hunting carrions. They are large birds with black bodies, long neck with grayish-white head that appear to be wearing a cap. What is the name of this bird?

If you know where an image of the bird is, please share.

Answer 1

Where in the world are you?

Answer 2

Vulture is correct, buzzard is the common term used to refer to old world hawks.  Animals are never ugly, in my opinion only humans can be ugly.

You are describing one of the old world vultures, perhaps the Eurasian vulture.

http://www.answers.com/topic/old-world-v...

http://www.answers.com/topic/eurasian-bl...

http://www.eskimo.com/~rowdenw/EEA/photo...

Answer 3

It is a vulture... for the picure go to http/www.wikipedia.com

Answer 4

There are two vultures found in the US..yours sounds more like a Black Vulture, rather than a Turkey Vulture. Black vultures have greyish or black heads while Turkey Vultures have red heads.  Both are found in Virgina.  You can also look at where the white on the wing is to determine species.

Black Vulture (white on tips of wings):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobinnj/237...

Turkey Vulture (white under wings):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshsommers...

Answer 5

When I want to see an ugly buzzard, I just look in the mirror.

The two vultures (not buzzards) in VA can be told apart by their tails most easily. You frequently have trouble seeing head color and young turkey vultures have black heads. The tail of a turtkey vulture is long and relatively narrow. A black vulture's tail is shorter and fan-shaped.

Answer 6

Wow. Without a few more details and where you live we can't really tell. But as per usual with questions like this, I'll answer as if you live somewhere near me and say it's either a turkey vulture: http://www.mariewinn.com/marieblog/uploa...

http://www.maxwaugh.com/images/zoo06/vul...

or a black vulture: http://www.earthethics.com/black_vulture...

http://world.std.com/~eva/florida/black_...

Keep in mind young turkey vultures look like black vultures (except for the light patches on the underside of the wings)

Edit: Yep, either a black or turkey vulture... Here's a site with all the birds of prey of Virginia, the vultures are at the bottom of the page: http://www.raptorsva.org/Birds_VA.html