(behav, remove incomplete, range) |
(Flight picture Behaviour expanded. References updated) |
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| + | [[Image:Greater_Yellow-headed_Vulture.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Arthur+Grosset|Arthur Grosset}}<br />Mato Grosso, [[Brazil]], March 2003]] | ||
;[[:Category:Cathartes|Cathartes]] melambrotus | ;[[:Category:Cathartes|Cathartes]] melambrotus | ||
| − | + | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | There can be difficulty in separating Greater Yellow-headed from Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture but, when perched, the wingtips of lessers extend way beyond the tail tip, and in flight have very narrow, long wings with high contrast between coverts and flight feathers. Greater | + | 74–81 cm |
| + | *Bright yellow bare head skin | ||
| + | *Black plumage | ||
| + | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | There can be difficulty in separating Greater Yellow-headed from Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture but, when perched, the wingtips of lessers extend way beyond the tail tip, and in flight have very narrow, long wings with high contrast between [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] and flight feathers. Greater YHV flies on flat wings. | ||
| + | |||
| + | For discussion on separating this species from [[Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture]] see reference<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | ||
| + | [[Image:952ET38001.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|erikat|erikat}}<br />Near Jenny (Saramacca District), [[Suriname]], June 2003 ]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], the [[Guianas]], [[Brazil]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Peru]]. | + | [[South America]]: found in [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], the [[Guianas]], [[Brazil]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Peru]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | This is a monotypic species<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. | + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Mostly in forest. | Mostly in forest. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
Usually flies low over canopy to find food using its sense of smell. May at times be seen soaring very high above the forest. | Usually flies low over canopy to find food using its sense of smell. May at times be seen soaring very high above the forest. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Scavenges on dead mammals of the forest, such as monkeys, sloths and opossums | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | # [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=34866 Thread] discussing identification of the two Yellow-headed Vultures | + | #[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=34866 Thread] discussing identification of the two Yellow-headed Vultures |
| − | # | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156 |
| − | # Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156 | + | #Erize et al. 2006 Birds of South America, non-passerines. Princeton Illustrated Checklists, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-12688-7 |
| − | # Erize et al. 2006 Birds of South America, non-passerines. Princeton Illustrated Checklists, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-12688-7 | + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2014) |
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Cathartes+melambrotus}} | {{GSearch|Cathartes+melambrotus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cathartes]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Cathartes]] | ||
Revision as of 21:03, 27 September 2014
- Cathartes melambrotus
Identification
74–81 cm
- Bright yellow bare head skin
- Black plumage
Similar Species
There can be difficulty in separating Greater Yellow-headed from Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture but, when perched, the wingtips of lessers extend way beyond the tail tip, and in flight have very narrow, long wings with high contrast between coverts and flight feathers. Greater YHV flies on flat wings.
For discussion on separating this species from Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture see reference[1].
Distribution
South America: found in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[2].
Habitat
Mostly in forest.
Behaviour
Usually flies low over canopy to find food using its sense of smell. May at times be seen soaring very high above the forest.
Diet
Scavenges on dead mammals of the forest, such as monkeys, sloths and opossums
References
- Thread discussing identification of the two Yellow-headed Vultures
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
- Erize et al. 2006 Birds of South America, non-passerines. Princeton Illustrated Checklists, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-12688-7
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Yellow-headed Vulture. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Yellow-headed_Vulture
