King Vulture

9"x12", watercolor, unframed, 2019 Uncommon, large, and spectacular bird of lowland tropical forest, the king vulture is mainly in wilder areas and not around human habitation. Most often seen soaring overhead in mid-late morning, often fairly high up with kettles of black vultures; rarely seen perched. Striking adult has a colorful head and neck, piercing white eyes, and mostly white plumage with a black trailing edge to the wings and tail. Immature is blackish overall and lacks the white wing markings of the smaller black vulture. Immature develops adult plumage over a few years with white appearing first on the belly and the underside of the wings. Source: Merlin