Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

Cathartidae - New World Vultures

The Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is a large, broad-winged scavenger with glossy black plumage and a striking bare head that glows in shades of bright yellow to orange. Its wingspan can reach nearly two meters, giving it an imposing presence in the sky. In flight, it shows silvery flight feathers contrasting with its dark body, and like other vultures, it soars with minimal wingbeats. Its head coloration is more vivid than that of the Turkey Vulture, and its bill is pale, hooked, and well-adapted for tearing carrion.

Species eBird Ecuador Link: Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

@ on the Rio Tambopata, Peru by Murray Foubister

This vulture is a bird of the Amazon Basin, and in Ecuador it is restricted to the eastern lowlands. It inhabits humid tropical forests and riverine areas, typically below 1,200 meters. Unlike the Turkey and Black Vultures, which thrive in open and human-altered landscapes, the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is more tied to intact forested habitats. It is often seen soaring above the canopy or gliding along rivers, searching for carrion with its keen eyesight and excellent sense of smell.

Globally, the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, thanks to its wide distribution across the Amazon Basin and stable population. However, it is more sensitive to habitat loss than its relatives, since it depends on large tracts of undisturbed forest. Deforestation, road expansion, and human encroachment into the Amazon pose potential long-term threats, though at present its numbers remain secure.

One of the most fascinating traits of the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is its reliance on smell to locate food—a rare ability among birds. It can detect the scent of decaying flesh beneath dense forest canopy, allowing it to find carrion that other scavengers might miss. This ability has even been used by humans: pipelines in the Amazon have reportedly been checked for leaks by watching where vultures congregate, since they are attracted to the smell of escaping gas compounds similar to those in decaying tissue. Unlike the highly social Black Vulture, the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is more solitary, often feeding alone or in small groups. Its vivid head coloration also makes it one of the most visually distinctive vultures in South America.

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