A Red-headed King

When we talk about the characters that make up the forests of Southern India, we should make take a few minutes to remember a rarely seen ruler of the skies - the Red-headed Vulture.

Sometimes mistakenly called the King Vulture, scientifically the southern american variety is called the King Vulture, whereas the Indian version is called only the Red-headed one. This species is critically endangered, making any sighting a rare event. The first time I saw this species was a few years ago at Kabini, sitting on the ground near the backwaters very, very far away. After a couple of years I saw it somewhat more closely at Bandipur, but a clear photograph was impossible due to the clutter. More recently, we had a good opportunity at Nagarahole, in the Coorg district.

While riding back from the forest at almost the exiting time, we suddenly saw an individual perched on a tree by the roadside - and I suddenly cried out - “Stop, Stop”! I guess the driver was confused if I saw a leopard or something - but it was this special vulture. Completely feathreless on the head, this vulture showcases a red, meat-colored head, and has large lapels to help it dispurse the heat.

After a few minutes the vulture took flight, spreading its enormous wings and showcasing how well it can fly.