Black Vulture Portraits From Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

Last week, I was thrilled to take my first Black Vulture photos at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, and some were portraits of the vultures that I found.

Close up Black Vulture at Tishomingo NWR – Nikon D500, f9, 1/160, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Both Turkey and Black Vultures are found at the refuge. While I found both species, I wanted to photograph the Black Vultures the most because this was a vulture species I did not see while I lived in Utah. I photographed a young vulture before it left its nest last year at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

It was a thrill for me to take those images. The vulture nest was inside a natural cavity in a tree next to the road at that refuge. My thanks go out to Steve Creek, a dear friend and excellent wildlife photographer, for pointing out and sharing those Black Vulture chicks with me last year.

Tishomingo NWR Black Vulture portrait – Nikon D500, f9, 1/250, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I didn’t find or see any Black Vultures in a nest at Tishomingo NWR, but it was my first trip there, and I was busy exploring the refuge.

Finding Black Vultures was delightful, and I was very pleased to have them in my viewfinder.

This particular Black Vulture has puzzled me. I believe that it isn’t quite mature, or adult, yet. It was browner than I expect an adult to be. I’m also not sure the brown fuzzy stubble on its head is seen on adult Black Vultures. This vulture may have hatched last year, but I am not certain about that. I didn’t see this Black Vulture with their wings spread so I couldn’t see the feathers I would want to see to look for signs of molt.

However old this Black Vulture is, it made my day even better to take these portraits.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Black Vulture photos plus facts and information about this species.