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Glite Dictionary
Coragyps atratus

Coragyps atratus

9.9
A large black bird that eats dead animals, found from the southeast United States to South America
  • noun
  • /kəˈrɑːɡɪps ˈeɪtrətəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : buitre negro
  • The Coragyps atratus is often seen soaring in open country and feeding on carrion.

Examples

  • The Coragyps atratus typically feeds on carrion, making it an important scavenger in the ecosystem.

  • Unlike the turkey vulture, the Coragyps atratus has a shorter tail and wings.

  • Researchers studied the population growth of Coragyps atratus in urban areas.

  • The Coragyps atratus is often seen soaring in the sky.

  • Many people mistake the Coragyps atratus for a turkey vulture.

  • Researchers studied the population growth of Coragyps atratus in urban areas, noting their adaptability.

  • Unlike the turkey vulture, the Coragyps atratus can often be identified by its darker plumage and smaller size.

Synonyms

black vulture
vsCoragyps atratus
1 6.8

A large black bird that eats dead animals and often flies over fields

is the specific American species smaller than the turkey vulture and limited in range

Surface Forms

Coragyps atratus singular
Coragyps atratuses plural

Morphology

Coragyps + atratus

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name rather than a compositional English phrase; a B1 learner who knows the listed constituents would not be able to derive that it refers to the black vulture because 'atratus' is not a common English word and lacks an accessible definition here. Recognizing the species requires specialized taxonomic or Latin knowledge rather than ordinary lexical composition, so the meaning is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Coragyps atratus may come from old Greek and Latin words. Coragyps joins 'raven' and 'vulture', and atratus means 'dressed in black', so the name pictures a black vulture that looks a bit like a raven.