Photo: Davidvraju / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-headed Vulture
Sarcogyps calvus
Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 4.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Sarcogyps
- Species calvus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.5 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-headed Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-headed Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.5 kg, with a wing length of about 57 cm and a tail of around 22.9 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.2 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-headed Vulture?
The Red-headed Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 4.5 kg.
Where does the Red-headed Vulture live?
The Red-headed Vulture is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Red-headed Vulture belong to?
The Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Red-headed Vulture eat?
The Red-headed Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Red-headed Vulture migrate?
The Red-headed Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-headed Vulture endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
How large is the Red-headed Vulture's range?
The Red-headed Vulture has a mapped global range of about 2.2 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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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.