Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
November 2, 2017English - Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Portuguese - Urubu-de-cabeça-amarela
Latin - Cathartes burrovianus
I just think this is one cool looking bird. It’s as though it wakes up every morning, throws on some makeup and away it goes, ready for the day ahead. I photographed the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture at a water hole on the side of the road just south of the town of Miranda in Mato Grosso do Sul. We had stopped the car to photograph another bird when the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture that is in the photos, landed not far from where I was standing for a bit of a drink. It seemed quite comfortable with me not so far away and carried on drinking until it got its fill, then flew away. I was fortunate it was a bright sunny day, so the colours of the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture head were enhanced.
* The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is also known as the savannah vulture.
* A large bird that can get to 61 cm in length, weigh up to 1.2 kgs and has a wingspan of 1.65 Metres.
* It is found in eastern Mexico, central America and parts of South America, east of the Andes, south to Uruguay.
* It occupies open habitats, especially wet grasslands and marshes or dry fields, and clearings.
* it mainly feeds on carrion and locates carcasses by sight and by smell, an ability which is rare in birds. It also takes small prey such as fish, amphibians, insects and other invertebrates.
* The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture lacks the syrinx and the associated muscles. It is unable to utter any song or call. However, it can produce hisses, rattles, grunts and sneezing noises.
* Female lays 1-2 whitish eggs which are Incubated for about 40 days. The young fledge at 2-3 months of age.
* The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is widespread in open areas and populations seem to be fairly large and stable. The main threat is nest predation by mammals and ravens which steal its eggs, The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is classified as A species ”of least concern”. on the IUCN RED LIST.