The King Vulture is a large bird found in Central and South America. Like all New World vultures, it is a scavenger that feeds mostly on carrion, and features a head mostly lacking in feathers to make it easier to keep clean as it feeds. The King Vulture is noteworthy for its striking, brightly colored head, which features vibrant hues like orange, red and yellow.
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History: Though it is the only member of its genus Sarcoramphus, the naturalist William Bartram described a very similar bird during his travels to Florida in the late 1700s. This bird, called the “Painted Vulture”, is not known from any other accounts, and it’s still unknown whether Bartram had encountered a Florida population of King Vultures, or a new species entirely. It’s also possible that he was mistaken, or made up the encounter, though the mystery of just what the “Painted Vulture” was continues to this day.
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Scientific Name: Sarcoramphus papa
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Characteristics: King Vultures are known for their brightly colored, unfeathered heads. This particular vulture is in a hunched pose, perched on a rocky outcropping, with its wings spread. Scientifically accurate and hand-painted, this figure is full of intricate details.
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Size: This figure measures just about 4 ¾ inches from wing tip to wing tip. It’s just under 3 inches high and about 2 ¾ inches from its beak to the tip of its tail, about the size of a small index card.
- The King Vulture is part of the Wings of the World Birds collection
- All of our products are Non-toxic and BPA free
