Lesser yellow-headed vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

The lesser yellow-headed vulture (Cathartes burrovianus), also known as the savannah vulture, is a species of bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae.

Family: New World vulture Order: Accipitriformes Conservation: Least Concern

About the Lesser yellow-headed vulture

The lesser yellow-headed vulture (Cathartes burrovianus), also known as the savannah vulture, is a species of bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae. It was considered to be the same species as the greater yellow-headed vulture until they were split in 1964. It is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America in seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, swamps, and heavily degraded former forest. It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 150–165 cm (59–65 in). The body plumage is black, and the head and neck, which are featherless, are pale orange with red or blue areas. It lacks a syrinx, so therefore its vocalizations are limited to grunts or low hisses. The lesser yellow-headed vulture feeds on carrion and locates carcasses by sight and by smell, an ability which is rare

Fun Facts About Lesser yellow-headed vulture

The lesser yellow-headed vulture feeds on carrion and locates carcasses by sight and by smell, an ability which is rare in birds.
It is a large bird, with a wingspan of 150–165 cm (59–65 in).
The body plumage is black, and the head and neck, which are featherless, are pale orange with red or blue areas.
It was considered to be the same species as the greater yellow-headed vulture until they were split in 1964.
It lacks a syrinx, so therefore its vocalizations are limited to grunts or low hisses.

Conservation Status

The Lesser yellow-headed vulture is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.

View on IUCN Red List →

Taxonomy & Classification

Order	Accipitriformes
Family	New World vulture
Genus	Cathartes
Species	Cathartes burrovianus

Range & Habitat