View source for King vulture

{{Taxobox
| name = King vulture
| status = LC
| status_system = iucn3.1
| image = Sarcoramphus papa (Königsgeier - King Vulture) - Weltvogelpark Walsrode 2013-01.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = The extraordinary head of the king vulture
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Accipitriformes]]
| familia = [[Cathartidae]]
| genus = '''''Sarcoramphus'''''
| binomial = ''Sarcoramphus papa''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)
}}

The '''king vulture''' (''Sarcoramphus papa''), is a large [[bird]] found in [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. This [[vulture]] lives predominantly in tropical lowland forests stretching from southern [[Mexico]] to northern [[Argentina]]. It is the only surviving member of the [[genus]] '''''Sarcoramphus''''', although fossil members are known.

Large and predominantly white, the king vulture has gray to black ruff, flight, and tail [[feather]]s. The head and neck are bald, with the skin color varying, including yellow, orange, blue, purple, and red. The king vulture has a very noticeable yellow fleshy caruncle on its beak.


[[File:Sarcoramphus papa -National Zoo -Washington -USA-8a.jpg|thumb|left|250px|]]

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[[Category:Birds of Central America]]
[[Category:Birds of South America]]
[[Category:Cathartidae]]
[[Category:Vultures]]