Fauna
Bird

King Vulture

Sarcoramphus papa

Also 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
King Vulture reference1 / 7
Renato Augusto Martins / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMammal 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
Classification
  1. FamilyCathartidae
  2. SpeciesSarcoramphus papa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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