Scientific Name: Sarcoramphus papa

Uncommon, large, and spectacular bird of lowland tropical forest, mainly in wilder areas and not around human habitation. Most often seen soaring overhead in mid-late morning, often fairly high up with kettles of Black Vultures; rarely seen perched. Striking adult has a colorful head and neck, piercing white eyes, and mostly white plumage with a black trailing edge to the wings and tail. Immature is blackish overall and lacks the white wing markings of the smaller Black Vulture. Immature develops adult plumage over a few years with white appearing first on the belly and the underside of the wings.

Despite its imposing size and striking appearance, the King Vulture is usually silent and relies on its keen eyesight to locate carcasses, often descending only after smaller vultures have already gathered. Unlike other scavengers, it has a powerful beak capable of tearing through thick hides, sometimes opening carcasses that others cannot penetrate. This makes it an essential species in the ecosystem, helping to clean up and recycle nutrients in the forest. Its presence is often considered a sign of undisturbed habitat, as it tends to avoid heavily degraded or urbanized areas.