Cathartes melambrotus
Silhouette: Jan Sevcik (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10%
The greater yellow-headed vulture (Cathartes melambrotus), also known as the forest vulture, is a species of bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae. It was considered to be the same species as the lesser yellow-headed vulture until they were split in 1964. It is found in South America in tropical moist lowland forests. It is a fairly large bird, with a wingspan of 166–178 cm (65–70 in), a weight of 1.65 kilograms (3.6 lb) and a body length of 64–75 cm (25–30 in). The body plumage is black, and the head and neck, which are featherless, range in color from deep yellow to pale orange. It lacks a syrinx, and its vocalizations are therefore limited to grunts or low hisses.
The greater yellow-headed vulture feeds on carrion and locates carcasses by sight and by smell, an ability which is rare in birds. It is dependent on larger vultures, such as the king vulture, to open the hides of larger animal carcasses, as its bill is not strong enough to do this. Like other New World vultures, the greater yellow-headed vulture utilizes thermals to stay aloft with minimal effort. It lays its eggs on flat surfaces, such as the floors of caves, or in the hollows of stumps. It feeds its young by regurgitation. Wikipedia →
Recording
© Cameron Rutt · XCXC540005 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Brownsberg Nature Park | 🇸🇷 Suriname | |
| 4 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 6 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 7 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 8 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bioparc Fuengirola | 🇪🇸 Spain |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Greater Yellow-headed Vulture sighting in Belém on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 135th most-seen of the 144 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May and September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Greater Yellow-headed Vulture in Belém on a given day, against under 5% in June–August and October–April, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Greater Yellow-headed Vulture sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Greater Yellow-headed Vulture sightings, Belém has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Manaus (Brazil, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is recorded against all the birds logged in Belém (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
