How long do black vultures live?
The oldest Black Vulture on record lived to 25.5 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild black vultures live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 25.5 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 8 years
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–3 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 23.6–26.8 in, 56.4–77.6 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 2
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Black Vulture can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Black vultures usually start breeding at about 8 years old. Each season a pair lays 1–3 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 28–41 days to hatch.
How black vultures compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other new world vultures on this site.
- Turkey Vulture20.8 years
More about black vultures
Frequently asked
How long do black vultures live?
The longest-lived Black Vulture on record reached 25.5 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild black vultures live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Black Vulture when it first breeds?
Usually about 8 years old.
What is the oldest Black Vulture ever recorded?
25.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Black Vulture raise in a year?
Pairs lay 1–3 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info