Animalia Life
Cathartes melambrotus
SUBFAMILY
Catharnae
TAXONOMY
Cathartes melambrotus Wetmore, 1964, Kartabo, Guyana.
Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Forest vulture; French: Grand urubu; German:
GroЯer Gelbkopfgeier; Spanish: Aura Selvбtica.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
29–32 in (74–81 cm), 2.6–3.6 lb (1.2–1.65 kg) but with larger
wings than the heavier C. aura. Similar head color to C. burrovianus.
DISTRIBUTION
Not well known. Southern Venezuela and the Guianas and
other parts of Amazonia.
HABITAT
Typically low tropical forest and less inclined to use open or
disturbed forest.
BEHAVIOR
Uses olfaction as other members of its genus.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Specializes on smaller carcasses found in forested areas by relying
on olfaction.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Not known, but probably similar to C. avra in most respects.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Status and
DISTRIBUTION
poorly known but in undisturbed
forests can be common.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
Photo Gallery of - Greater yellow-headed vulture
