05/03/2026

Samuel Clifford 

Location: Moncks Corner, SC

Date: 05/02/2026

Temp: 58 F

Time: 9:55 am

Weather: Sunny, No Clouds

An entire 24 hours after the last data collection, the same carcass that was being consumed in the prior collection attracted more than two dozen vultures. A mix of Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures flew in the sky, only likely 30-50ft above me head. As they landed, the Black Vultures surrounded the carcass quickly, and became extremely territorial of it. Not only with Turkey Vultures, but also other Black Vultures. Unlike the last collection, I can confirm this carcass is an armadillo that was likely hit by a car as it’s near the road. The Black Vultures had a lot darker feathering than the Turkey Vultures. They also had a black head and when flying or displaying feathers the greyish primaries. 

There are notable differences in the behavior of Black Vultures and the Turkey Vultures seen today and in the last collection. Firstly, while the Black Vultures are still skittish, they allowed cars and myself to get closer before moving or flying away. Furthermore, the returned to the carcass within only a few seconds of a car leaving, not waiting much time at all to continue devouring. The Turkey Vultures would completely fly away from the carcass when something approached but the Black Vultures would either walk/run about 10-15 ft away or would fly a short distance close to the ground. Their “run”looks like they are hobbling while their walk doesn’t give off this appearance.

Secondly, as stated, these Black Vultures were extremely territorial of their food. The Turkey Vultures wouldn’t even approach the carcass if a few of the Black Vultures were there. In fact, I watched as two Black Vultures stood on the opposite side of the carcass from a Turkey Vulture. They stared at each other and the Turkey Vulture then flew away. This is interesting behavior as the Turkey Vultures are quite larger than the Black Vultures and yet do not seem to want to fight over the carcass.  After a while, all the Turkey Vultures left leaving about 8 Black Vultures with the carcass. May Turkey Vultures originally flew around above the carcass seemingly waiting but ended up flying off after a couple of minutes.

Thirdly, unlike the Turkey Vultures they were also territorial against their own species. They’d quite often display their feathers and push other individuals around or away. They’d lunge at others nearing their portion of the carcass. Some members would not even be allowed near the carcass. One individual seemed to continually get pushed around if it neared the carcass. Many times they would lower their head when lunging at another individual. One time two individuals seemingly wrestled by pushing each other at the side and displaying their feathers and sometimes pecking. Eventually one seemed to have conceded and started to fly away but the other began chasing for 6-8 ft until giving up. 

They were also more aggressive with the carcass. Multiple individuals would pull on it at once. They would drag the carcass. The carcass actually moved probably 6-8 feet away from its original spot. At times part of the group would work in the carcass while another group was around the carcass eating scraps. 

After eating, multiple individuals stretched their wings out in the sun likely to aid in digestion. After the hours went by some individuals flew away while others remained. Some individuals remained eating at the carcass while others stood in the grass nearby and some on tree limbs nearby. Finally, after two hours, all of the vultures flew off, circling in the sky getting higher each time, and left.