Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, August 2011.

Bird name: Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture
Latin: Cathartes burrovianus
Other: Urubu-de-cabeça-amarela, urubu-menor-de-cabeça-amarela (Br) • Aura sabanera (Es)
Family: Cathartidae • New World Vultures
Range: Mexico, Central America, South America E of Andes, esp. Brazil, Pantanal. Lowland wet grassland, swamps, heavily degraded forest.
Similar: Greater Yellow Headed Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Comparison

The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is the most visible vulture in the Pantanal (Turkey Vultures also seen). Seen eating at fruit feeders at Curicaca Lodge and beside the road leading to the Transpantaneira.

The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is a smaller bird than the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, with thinner wings and narrower head. Underside of wings lighter than GYHV but not as light as TV. Head more colourful (with yellow and blue) than Turkey Vulture. The Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is not found in the Pantanal. The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture was rare (I didn’t see one) in the forested Rio Azul lodge, southern Para.

Below: Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Pantanal. Lightened slightly to show wing pattern.


Below, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture near Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal.


Below, Lesser Yellow headed Vulture in flight, profile view.


Other Spanish names for the Lesser Yellow Vulture: jote cabeza amarilla (Argentina), guala sabanera (Colombia), zopilote cabecigualdo (Costa Rica, Nicaragua), zopilote sabanero (Mexico), cuervo cabeza amarilla (Paraguay, Uruguay)