King Vulture

King Vulture ( Sarcoramphus papa )

The king vulture ( Sarcoramphus papa ) is a New World vulture of South America and the only living species of its genus. He received his name because he dominated at Aasstellen over other vultures.

Features

King Vulture are colored flashy. Her naked head is red at the apex, neck and around the eyes, the mouth and the neck warts orange to yellow. Are located on the cheeks short, grayish-white feathers, while the lower part of the neck is black. The front is white gray. These vultures are up to 85 cm long, and 4.5 kg in weight, and have a wingspan of almost 2 m. Like all New World vultures also has the king vulture a powerful beak and strong toes.

Way of life

King Vulture are not very sociable, but live in pairs and sleep at night in sleep Communities. During the day they sail for hours without their wings to move around and look for food. They avoid the high mountains and stay mainly in rain forests and savannas.

Food

You have a good sense of smell, and sharp eyes. Their diet consists besides fish, small mammals and snakes, mainly from carrion. On a Aasplatz arrived, they gather to several dozen animals and distribute other vultures or chase them from food.

Reproduction

King Vulture breed every two years and build no nest, but lay their eggs either in rotten tree stumps or in crotches and crevices, which are often located at altitudes of 20 to 30 m. Most of the female lays only one white- yellowish, reddish brown speckled egg, but sometimes it also happens that the brood consists of three eggs. After a 55 -day incubation period, in which both parents are involved in equal parts, slips of the young bird. It is lined by pre-digested food from the crop of parents. The nestling period is 80-90 days; then the boy leaves the nest, but often remains still 150 to 600 days with the parents.

Dissemination

The distribution area of ​​King Vulture extends from southern Mexico through Central and South America to northern Argentina and Uruguay.

Gallery

Side view of the striking head

King Vulture in the world Walsrode Bird Park