king vulture

American  

noun

1. a large, black-and-white vulture, Sarcorhamphus papa, of Central and South America, having colorful wattles and wartlike protuberances on its head and neck.

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Etymology

Origin of king vulture

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

"We would like to see the Asian king vulture soar once again through the skies of Thailand," he said.

From Reuters • Apr. 26, 2023

His king vulture, Maloney, lovingly groomed his mustache with its enormous beak.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 13, 2015

Or the rarer king vulture, sarcoramphus papa, also called condor Amazónico?

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2014

Cathartes, turkey buzzards, Sarcorhamphus gryphus, condor Gypagus papa, king vulture.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various

The king vulture makes his nest in the hollow of a tree, where his queen lays two eggs.

From The Western World Picturesque Sketches of Nature and Natural History in North and South America by Kingston, William Henry Giles