Photo: Jairmoreirafotografia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Cathartes burrovianus
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) — Birds of Prey of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) is a member of the Cathartidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 935 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Cathartidae New World Vultures
- Genus Cathartes
- Species burrovianus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 935 g
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Cathartidae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) is a member of the Cathartidae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Mexico to n Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 935 g, with a wing length of about 48.6 cm and a tail of around 24 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7.8 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture?
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 935 g.
Where does the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture live?
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Mexico to n Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture belong to?
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) belongs to the Cathartidae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture eat?
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture migrate?
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture's range?
The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture has a mapped global range of about 7.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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