| Species ID | 040570 |
| Name | King Vulture |
| Other Common Names | King John Crow |
| Category | 04 Birds |
| Phylum | |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | Aves |
| Subclass | Neornithes |
| Suborder | Ciconiae |
| Family | Cathartidae |
| Genus | Sarcoramphus |
| Species | papa |
| Subspecies | |
| References | 1, 39, 41 |
| Scientific Synonyms | Vultur papa - Linnaeus, 1758 |
39* The family Cathartidae is inserted in the suborder Ciconiae following the family Ciconiidae, being removed from the order Falconiformes on pp.98-100.
| Status Code | Status Translation | References |
| 2 | Resident, species present all year. | 34 |
| 2 | Resident, species present all year. | 40 |
| 13 | Apparently secure in Belize | 38 |
| 272 | Uncommon: occur at low density in proper habitat. | 38 |
| 2 | Resident, species present all year. | 3 |
| DISTRICT | References |
| Belize, Belize | 7 |
| Cayo, Belize | 6 |
| Corozal, Belize | 17 |
| Orange Walk, Belize | 8 |
| Stann Creek, Belize | 22 |
| Toledo, Belize | 4 |
| Administrative Unit | Occurrence | Abundance | Temporal | References |
| Government land | Sighting | Unknown, insufficient data | December | 44 |
| Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve | Dry season (Jan-May) | 28 | ||
| Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve | Dry season (Jan-May) | 6 | ||
| Chiquibul Forest Reserve | Sighting | Dry season (Jan-May) | 19 | |
| Chiquibul Forest Reserve | Dry season (Jan-May) | 20 | ||
| Chiquibul Forest Reserve | Dry season (Jan-May) | 27 | ||
| Chiquibul Forest Reserve | Wet season (June-December) | 26 | ||
| Columbia River Forest Reserve | Sighting | Uncommon | Dry season (Jan-May) | 4 |
| Chiquibul National Park | Sighting | August | 18 | |
| Shipstern Nature Reserve | Dry season (Jan-May) | 17 | ||
| Rio Bravo Conservation Area | Sighting | Dry season (Jan-May) | 9 | |
| Rio Bravo Conservation Area | 25 | |||
| Rio Bravo Conservation Area | Sighting | Uncommon | Dry season (Jan-May) | 34 |
| Gallon Jug | Dry season (Jan-May) | 23 | ||
| Gallon Jug | 24 | |||
| Gallon Jug | 8 | |||
| Tapir Mtn. Nature Reserve | Fairly common | Permanent Resident (Year-round) | 29 | |
| Chiquibul National Park | Dry season (Jan-May) | 27 | ||
| Chiquibul National Park | Wet season (June-December) | 26 | ||
| Bladen Nature Reserve | Sighting | Wet season (June-December) | 14 | |
| Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | Wet season (June-December) | 22 | ||
| Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | Wet season (June-December) | 33 | ||
| Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 23 | |||
| Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Private) | Rare | 15 | ||
| Blue Hole National Park | 28 | |||
| Community Baboon Sanctuary | Uncommon | Permanent Resident (Year-round) | 30 | |
| Hidden Valley & Falls (Bull Run) | Sighting | Dry season (Jan-May) | 9 | |
| Hidden Valley & Falls (Bull Run) | 36 | |||
| Lamanai Archaeological Reserve | Sighting | Wet season (June-December) | 16 | |
| Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve | Dry season (Jan-May) | 28 | ||
| Caracol Archaeological Reserve | Sighting | Dry season (Jan-May) | 11 | |
| Caracol Archaeological Reserve | 11 | |||
| Mussel Creek Drainage (Proposed) | Rare | Dry season (Jan-May) | 7 | |
| Mussel Creek Drainage (Proposed) | 12 | |||
| Northern Lagoon/Southern Lagoon (Proposed) | 23 | |||
| Private land, see comments | Sighting | August | 31 | |
| Private land, see comments | Sighting | Wet season (June-December) | 10 | |
| Private land, see comments | Sighting | Wet season (June-December) | 28 | |
| Private land, see comments | Wet season (June-December) | 5 | ||
| Private land, see comments | 13 | |||
| Private land, see comments | 23 | |||
| Private land, see comments | Collected as voucher. | 37 | ||
| Monkey River Special Development Area | 32 |
| Hydrologic Unit Distribution | References |
| New River Lagoon | 34 |
| Belize River | 30 |
| Roaring Creek | 29 |
| Macal River | 27 |
| Bladen Branch | 14 |
| Cox's Lagoon | 7 |
| Macal River | 6 |
| Mussel Creek | 12 |
| Sittee River | 13 |
| Sibun River | 15 |
| New River | 16 |
| Raspaculo River | 19 |
| ELEVATION Association | References |
| 1-200 m | 44 |
| 1100-1200 m | 18 |
| 1-200 m | 31 |
| 1-200 m | 34 |
| 1-200 m | 35 |
| 1-200 m | 37 |
| 401-600 m | 36 |
| QUAD Distribution | References |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 44 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 16 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 28 |
| 17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 23 |
| 17 30' to 17 45'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 35 |
| 17 30' to 17 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 8 |
| 17 30' to 17 45'; 88 10' to 88 30' | 35 |
| 17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 30 |
| 17 30' to 17 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 34 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 35 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 8 |
| 17 00' to 17 15'; 88 00' to 88 30' | 35 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 7 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 10 |
| 18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15' | 29 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 35 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 36 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 37 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 8 |
| 16 15' to 16 30'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 9 |
| 16 15' to 16 30'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 28 |
| 16 00' to 16 15'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 31 |
| 16 00' to 16 15'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 35 |
| 15 50' to 16 00'; 88 50' to 89 15' | 8 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 23 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 11 |
| Holdridge Life Zone Distribution | References |
| Subtropical wet | 44 |
| Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical | 35 |
| Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical | 31 |
| Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical | 29 |
| Subtropical wet | 33 |
| Subtropical moist | 37 |
| Subtropical moist | 35 |
| Subtropical moist | 34 |
| Subtropical moist | 30 |
| Subtropical Lower Montane wet | 36 |
| Subtropical Lower Montane moist | 18 |
Comments on Distribution
34* Uncommon in broadleaf forest.
44* Las Sierritas, Toledo District.
40* Common northern semideciduous moist forest.
Common southern moist-wet evergreen broadleaf forests.
Common Mtn. Pine Ridge/savannas on poor soil.
Uncommon coastal/low-lands savannas, inc. marshy areas.
Uncommon sub-tropical lower montane forest.
3* Common in northern hardwood forests, common in southern hardwood
forests, common in the Mountain Pine Ridge, uncommon in coastal
savannahs.
29* NE portion TMNR, base camp Pook's Hill
28* Blue Creek
27* Guacamallo Bridge
26* Guacamallo
23* Toledo Settlement, 4 mi. W of Punta Gorda
14* Richardson Crk. & Bladen Br. upstream to Calera Caves;
lower Quebrada de Oro & Bladen from Calera to Hellgate; Upper reaches
of Quebrada de Oro.
13* Possum Point Biological Station
10* Sighted at or within 5 mile radius of Chaa Creek Cottages
6* Francelia Camp and Rubber Camp
4* Rare at Union Camp
| HABITAT | References |
| TERRESTRIAL | 29 |
| Forest Type Associations | Seral Stage | Canopy Closure | References |
| Broadleaf Forest Rich in Lime-loving Species; Chiquebul-Bullhoof Forest | mature tree | 71-100% | 29 |
| Land Use/Land Cover Associations | References |
| Mixed Forest Land | 36 |
| Mixed Forest Land | 34 |
| Pine ridge and savanna | 33 |
| Highland forest & elfin shrub | 33 |
| Wamil or second growth | 33 |
| Transitional Areas | 33 |
| Evergreen Forest Land | 33 |
| Protection | 29 |
| Trophic |
| SCAVENGER |
References on Trophic Level
42, 43
| Lifestage | Food Item Consumed | Part of Food Item | |
| Adult | Carrion | Adult stage |
Comments on General Food Habits
42* For Cathartidae: food almost exclusively carrion. 43* May locate hidden carcasses by scent; usually soliary, at most 3 or 4 at a large carcass. When it descends to carrion, other vultures make way for it, hence the name King.
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
1 A.O.U. 1983. Checklist of North American Birds. 6th Ed. 2 A.O.U. 1985, 1987, 1989. 35th-37th Supplements. 3 Wood, D.S.,R. C. Leberman, and D. Weyer. 1986. Checklist of Birds of Belize. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication 12. 4 Parker, T. A. III, B. K. Holst, L. H. Emmons, J. R. Meyer. 1993. A Biological Assessment of the Columbia River Forest Reserve, Toledo District, Belize. pp.71-78 5 Matola, S., 1990. The Dolores Expedition, January 27 - February 3, 1990. Unpublished report. 6 Miller, B.W.; C.M. Miller. 1992. Preliminary Avian Survey of the Upper Macal River: Rubber Camp and Francelia Camp, pp.55-63. in Macal River Hydroelectric Development Environmental Impact Assessment Rubber Camp and Chalillo Schemes Pre-feasibility Study - Draft Environmental Appendix. Vol. II of III 7 Hunt, H. R., J. Tamarack. 1992. Cox Lagoon Crocodile Preserve. Unpub. report. pp.4-8. 8 Miller, B. W., 1994. Belize Christmas Bird Counts, Twenty Year Summary. in prep. 9 Miller, B., Miller, C. 1992. Biodiversity Studies at Hidden Valley, 29 July - 7 August. Unpublished report. 10 Carnegie Ornithological Group and Mass Audubon Ornithological Group, compilers. 1993. Chaa Creek Bird List. Unpublished list. 11 Miller, B. W., C. M. Miller. 1994, Birds of Caracol, 1988 - 1993. in prep. 12 Miller, B., C. Miller. 1987. Conservation of a Critical Marsh and Lowland habitat, Mussel Creek drainage system, Belize, C.A. Report to NYZS/Wildlife Conservation Society. 13 Anon. 1993. Bird Checklist for Possum Point Biological Station, Sittee River, Belize 14 Brokaw, N. L. V., T. L. Lloyd-Evans. 1987. The Bladen Branch Wilderness. p.38-42. Unpublished report. 15 Anon. 1994. Monkey Bay Checklist of Birds. Unpublished list. 16 Noble, B., B. Stewart, J. Dillon. 1994. Lamanai Bird List, Mid-October 1993 - 16 March 1994. 17 Meerman, J. 1993. Checklist of the Birds of the Shipstern Nature Reserve, Occasional Papers of the Belize Natural History Society. 2(10). pp. 71-81. 18 Matola, S., compiler. 1989. Doyle's Delight, 20 - 31 August. Unpublished report. 19 Mallory, E. 1991. Survey of Birds and their Habitats, of the Joint Services Scientific Expedition to Upper Raspaculo, Maya Mountains, Belize. 20 Mallory, E. 1993. Birds of the Upper Raspaculo, Belize: JSSEUR II. Unpublished report. 21 McDuffie, P. 1993. Personal Bird List for Belize: September 1, 1989 - December 15, 1993. Unpublished list. 22 Matola, S., ed. 1990. The Cockscomb Basin Expedition Report June 11-18. Unpublished report. 23 Russell, S. M. 1964. A Distributional Study of the Birds of British Honduras. Ornithological Monographs No. 1, A.O.U. 24 Miller, B., C. Miller. 1994. A working checklist of the birds of Gallon Jug. Unpublished list. 25 Anon. 1994 (August). Working Checklist, Birds of Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area. Unpublished list. 26 Counsell, D.J.R., B. Etheridge. 1986. RAFOS Expedition to Belize. Unpub- lished report. 27 Barlow, S. C., G. B. Caddick. 1989. Report on the Status of the Scarlet Macaw, Ara macao, in Belize, Central America. Unpublished report. 28 Hallchurch, T.T., compiler. 1982. Exercise King Vulture Belize 23 Feb.- 16 March. Unpub. report for the British Army Bird Watching Society. 29 Miller, C.M., B.W. Miller. 1994. Preliminary Faunal Surveys at Tapir Mt. Nature Reserve, 27 Nov.-5 Dec., 1994. Unpublished report for BAS. 30 James, D., J. Bider. 1993. Bird List: Community Baboon Sanctuary, 1989- 1993 (derived from banding & census data, field notes). Unpublished data. 31 Robbins, Chandler. 1996. U.S.F.& Wildlife Service Wintering Bird Surveys for Belize. Unpublished data provided by C. Robbins. 32 Meerman, J.C. ed. 1995. Monkey River Special Development Area Stann Creek District, Belize. Belize Tropical Forest Studies Publication #5. Appendix: Bird List. Unpublished Technical report for B.E.S.T. 33 Kamstra, J. May 1987. An Ecological Survey of the Cockscomb Basin, Belize. Masters Thesis. York University, Ontario, Canada 34 Vallely, Andrew C. and A.A. Whitman. 1997. The Birds of Hill Bank, northern Belize. Cotinga. 8:39-49. 35 Miller, B. W. 1997. Belize Christmas Bird Count Summary 1970-1995. Data from American Birds Vol. 28-50 including 1973-1996. 36 Miller, B. W., C. M. Miller. 1992. Avian Studies at Hidden Valley. Unpublished report for Mt. Pleasant Ltd. 37 Panza, R. 1997. Carnegie Museum, Division of Birds, Holdings of Belize specimens through Jun. 1, 1997. 38 Miller, B.W., C.M. Miller. 1997. Avian Risk Assessment for Belize, Species at Risk and of Conservation Concern. Report to Programme for Belize/TNC Wings of America Program. 39 A.O.U. 1997. Forty-first Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk. 114 (3):542-552. 40 Garcia, J., S. Matola, M. Meadows, and C. Wright. 1994. A Checklist of the Birds of Belize. WWF-US. 35p. 41 Young, W. Ford. nd. Local Birds Names. Belize Audubon Society. 42 Howell, S. N. G., S. Webb. 1995. A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. New York. Oxford University Press. p. 176. 43 Stiles, F. G., A. F. Skutch. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca, NY. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, New York. p. 97. 44 Meerman, J.C. 1997. Faunal Study of Las Sierritas, Toledo District, Belize.