Scientific name: Sarcoramphus papa
Order: Incertae sedis
Family: Cathartidae

The King Vulture is an expert glider, sometimes soaring for hours without flapping its wings. It is non-migratory and generally lives alone or in small family groups. However, it can gather in large groups at a carcass. It is relatively unaggressive at a kill and will normally back down rather than fight.

The King Vulture feeds solely on carrion and, unlike some New World Vultures, is not known to kill sick or dying animals for food. It often eats stranded fish along river banks, but does not come to village refuse dumps for food. Though it has keen eyesight which can help it locate food, there are two theories regarding how it specifically finds carrion. Some argue that it uses its sense of smell to find animal carcasses. Others argue that it does not have a sense of smell, and instead follows the smaller Turkey Vultures and Greater Yellow-headed Vultures, which do have a sense of smell, to a carcass.

Click for a map of the bird's location
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page

Click for more information on this species at Wikipedia
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page