Sarcoramphus – King vulture

The King vulture is a large bird of prey from the New World family Cathartidae. This species is distinguishable from other vultures by its predominantly white body plumage, sharply contrasted by black flight feathers (remiges) and a striking, multi-colored head and neck. The bird’s head and neck are nearly bald, showing skin with red, orange, purple, and yellow hues, which are thought to play a role in thermoregulation and potentially in social interactions.

A conspicuous red ring surrounds the King Vulture’s eyes, and its powerful beak, designed to tear through tough carcasses, ends in a sharp hook. The caruncle’s fleshy growth above its nostrils adds to its distinctive facial features and is particularly prominent in adult birds.

These birds are indeed kings regarding their range and dominance at a carcass. They are found across a wide geographic range in the Americas, from southern Mexico to Central America to northern Argentina. Their habitats include tropical lowland forests where they soar high above the canopy.

Contrary to popular belief and unlike some Old World vultures, the King vulture does not have a well-developed sense of smell. Instead, they rely on their keen eyesight to spot carrion from a great distance while in flight. They often observe the behavior of other scavenger species as an indicator of where a carcass might be located.

King vultures are solitary or occur in pairs and are rarely seen in large groups. Their social structure at feeding sites is hierarchical, and despite their bright coloring, they can be quite dominant, often displacing other scavenger species despite their relatively lower numbers.

When it comes to reproduction, King vultures are not prolific breeders. They typically lay a single egg, which both parents incubate. Nesting sites are usually located in hollow stumps or on the forest floor, a trait uncommon among tree-nesting vultures.