Red-headed Vulture
Sarcogyps calvus
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusSarcogyps
- SpeciesSarcogyps calvus (Red-headed Vulture)
About the Red-headed Vulture
The red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), also known as the Asian king vulture, Indian black vulture or Pondicherry vulture, is an Old World vulture mainly found in the Indian subcontinent, with small disjunct populations in some parts of Southeast Asia.
This is a species of Old World vulture, and the only member of the genus Sarcogyps. The generic name Sarcogyps is a combination of the Greek words sarx, meaning "flesh", and gups, meaning "vulture". The specific epithet calvus is Latin for "bald". The red-headed vulture is monotypic; it has no accepted subspecies.
This gaudy-faced vulture was historically abundant, range widely across the Indian subcontinent, and also eastwards to south-central and south-eastern Asia, extending from India to Singapore. Today the range of the red-headed vulture is localized primarily to northern India. It is usually in open country and in cultivated and semi-desert areas. It is also found in deciduous forests and foothills and river valleys. It is usually found up to an altitude of 3000m from sea level.
It is a medium-sized vulture of 76 to 86 cm (30 to 34 in) in length... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Red-headed Vulture in Nagarhole National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Nagarhole National Park
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pernis ptilorhynchus
Crested Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus cirrhatus
Indian White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Gray-headed Fish-Eagle
Icthyophaga ichthyaetus
Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Black Eagle
Ictinaetus malayensis
White-eyed Buzzard
Butastur teesa
Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennatus
Greater Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bandhavgarh National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Nagarhole National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Jim Corbett National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 5 | Bandipur National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 6 | Chitwan National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 7 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 8 | Kanha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 9 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 10 | Kaziranga National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 11 | Satpura National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 12 | Gir National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 13 | Royal Bardia National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Red-headed Vulture in Nagarhole National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Red-headed Vulture sighting in Nagarhole National Park, based on 306 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Red-headed Vulture in Nagarhole National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Red-headed Vulture in Nagarhole National Park in our monthly data.