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Animal Guide

King Vulture

42 destinations · 20 states

Native Range
Central and South America, from Mexico to southern Brazil and northern Argentina

The king vulture is hard to mistake once you see its bare, brightly colored head and large black-and-white wings. At close range, the face can look almost sculpted, with patches of red, orange, and yellow skin surrounding a powerful bill. Unlike many vultures, king vultures have a relatively strong sense of smell but often rely on other scavengers to help locate food. They can then use their heavy bill to tear into tougher parts of a carcass that smaller vultures cannot manage. Watch one at a zoo and you'll notice how different its movement is on the ground compared with in the air. It may stand quietly for long periods, occasionally stretching its wings or shifting position, while high overhead it can soar with surprisingly little effort. King vultures also have broad wings suited to riding warm air over tropical forests. Their contrasting plumage makes an individual easy to follow when it spreads its wings, revealing bright white flight feathers against the darker body.

King Vulture

Where to see King Vulture

42 destinations across 20 states

42 destinations

Alexandria Zoological Park

Alexandria, LA

Audubon Zoo

New Orleans, LA

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Brevard Zoo

Melbourne, FL

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, TX

Cameron Park Zoo

Waco, TX

Central Coast Zoo (formerly Charles Paddock Zoo)

Atascadero, CA

Cougar Mountain Zoo

Issaquah, WA

David Traylor Zoo of Emporia

Emporia, KS

Dickerson Park Zoo

Springfield, MO

Ellen Trout Zoo

Lufkin, TX

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville, TX

Great Plains Zoo

Sioux Falls, SD

Gulf Breeze Zoo

Gulf Breeze, FL

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu, HI

Keystone Safari

Grove City, PA

Los Angeles Zoo

Los Angeles, CA

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

Nashville, TN

National Aviary

Pittsburgh, PA

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia, PA

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Potter Park Zoo

Lansing, MI

Reid Park Zoo

Tucson, AZ

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Columbia, SC

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence, RI

Saint Louis Zoo

St. Louis, MO

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio, TX

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Scotland Neck, NC

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

Goddard, KS

Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park

Salt Lake City, UT

Virginia Safari Park

Natural Bridge, VA

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Zoo Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

Zoo Miami

Miami, FL

Zoo World Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, FL

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