King Vulture

Sarcoramphus papa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cathartidae — New World Vultures

King Vulture, Sarcoramphus papa, is a bird of Middle America and South America, breeding from Mexico to northern Argentina. It belongs to the New World vultures in the family Cathartidae. This species is the only living member of Sarcoramphus. It is associated with tropical lowland forest across its range. The head and neck are bare, and the bill carries a striking orange fleshy caruncle. The plumage is mainly white, with grey to black feathers on the ruff, wings and tail.

Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Cathartidae — New World Vultures
Breeding range
Middle America, South America: Mexico to n Argentina
King Vulture
© Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

7 tours in Costa Rica 2, Brazil 2, Panama 1, Argentina 1, Mexico 1

Panama Birding with Nature Travel Birding
Panama Birding with Nature Travel Birding
Panama / Panama City Group tour 14 days

Experience an exclusive birdwatching journey through Panama, where North and South American birdlife meet across an exceptional range of hab...

Next: Mar 8, 2027
Costa Rica Escape Part II: Caribbean Foothills and Wetlands
Costa Rica Escape Part II: Caribbean Foothills and Wetlands
Costa Rica / San José Group tour 9 days

A nine-day Costa Rica birding journey through Arenal, northern border wetlands and Tenorio foothill forest, with boat excursions and targets...

From USD 5,960 Next: Feb 21, 2027
Costa Rica Escape Birding Tour
Costa Rica Escape Birding Tour
Costa Rica / San José Group tour 9 days

A nine-day Costa Rica birding circuit from Caribbean lowland forest to the highlands of San Gerardo de Dota, with toucans, hummingbirds and ...

From USD 6,435 Next: Jan 6, 2027
Custom Serra da Bodoquena Birdwatching Tour with Vitinho
Custom Serra da Bodoquena Birdwatching Tour with Vitinho
Brazil / Bonito Private tour

A private, customized birdwatching program in Serra da Bodoquena and the Bonito region with Victor “Vitinho” do Nascimento....

Route 101 Atlantic Forest Birding Tour
Route 101 Atlantic Forest Birding Tour
Argentina / Puerto Iguazu Private tour 1 day

A private birding day along 30 kilometres of unpaved Route 101 through Iguazú National Park, with stops and short forest walks....

Custom Mexico Birding Guiding with Rene Valdes
Custom Mexico Birding Guiding with Rene Valdes
Mexico / Mazatlan Private tour 1 day

Flexible private birding guidance with Mexican field ornithologist Rene Valdes, based in Mazatlan and guiding throughout the whole of Mexico...

Atlantic Forest North of Sao Paulo and Itatiaia Birdwatching with DBB Tours
Atlantic Forest North of Sao Paulo and Itatiaia Birdwatching with DBB Tours
Brazil / Ubatuba Private tour

Plan a private northern São Paulo and Itatiaia route across coastal forest, hummingbird feeders, river edges and high-elevation Atlantic Fo...