Rio King Vulture
IUCN: Least Concern
,Like all vultures, king vultures (Sarcoramphus papa) have a featherless head and neck, a powerful beak to accommodate its feeding on carcasses, and a body built for soaring.
Unlike other vultures, though, this species is vividly colored. It is the only forest vulture and like many rain forest birds, it shows stunning coloration—especially on its head and neck. King vultures are also large! They can weigh up to ten pounds and display a wingspan reaching up to seven feet!
Found mainly from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, king vultures are scavengers that have been known to regularly live up to thirty years in captivity, with one male known to have lived over 47 years
Fun Fact: King vultures were important in Maya mythology. They were purported to be gods that carried messages between humans and other gods.
Unlike other vultures, though, this species is vividly colored. It is the only forest vulture and like many rain forest birds, it shows stunning coloration—especially on its head and neck. King vultures are also large! They can weigh up to ten pounds and display a wingspan reaching up to seven feet!
Found mainly from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, king vultures are scavengers that have been known to regularly live up to thirty years in captivity, with one male known to have lived over 47 years
Fun Fact: King vultures were important in Maya mythology. They were purported to be gods that carried messages between humans and other gods.