Bird · GBIF taxon 2481923
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papaAlso known as Zopilote Rey, Royal Vulture
Garbed in striking white plumage with a brightly colored head and vivid orange caruncle, king vultures dominate the canopy of Neotropical rainforests. They possess exceptionally strong, hooked beaks capable of tearing open tough hides that smaller scavengers cannot breach. Soaring effortlessly on thermal currents, they frequently track turkey vultures to locate hidden carrion before swooping down to take charge of the carcass.
ScavengerTropicalColorful
Licensed referenceRenato Augusto Martins / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mammal carcasses
- Fish remains
- Reptile carcasses
Predators
- Jaguars
- Pumas
- Harpy Eagles
ThreatsDeforestation, habitat fragmentation, indirect poisoning, poaching
HabitatsTropical lowland rainforests, savanna woodlands, swamp forests
Life span20–30 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCathartidae
- SpeciesSarcoramphus papa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp beak and claws can inflict deep wounds if the bird is cornered or handled.
Responsible observation
- Scan High Canopies: Look for individuals roosting atop tall emergent trees in the early morning sun.
- Observe at Distance: Use a spotting scope near forest gaps or riverbanks to watch feeding behavior safely.
Foraging Partner Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Carcass Competitor "BLACK VULTURE #2" by cuatrok77 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Forest Companion (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
Family Member "Grand Canyon National Park: California Condor 87_3467" by Grand Canyon NPS is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.