Sarcogyps calvus (Scopoli, 1786)

Sarcogyps calvus, commonly called Red-headed Vulture, is an Asian bird of prey with an unmistakeable red head and jet-black body.

No subspecies.

Nesting season: December to April. Mating displays: Courtship is very acrobatic with both members of a pair exhibiting soaring and mutual cartwheeling displays. Nesting site: Top of a large tree, often close to a village and in an area with few other trees. Usually about 10-15m above the ground. Nest: A large flat platform of sticks with leaves and grass lined towards the centre. Clutch size: 1. Eggs: Roundish oval, white and fine textured. Incubation period: 45 days. Parental investment: Both parents share responsibility of caring for young.

Not a migrant. Resident species in the Indian subcontinent except Sri Lanka.

Length: 76 to 86 cm. Wingspan: 1.99–2.6 m. Weight: 3.5–6.3 kg.

A medium sized turkey-like vulture with a large wingspan, adults have dark red naked head and legs, dark red neck flanked by two broad red lappets and white patches at base, black feathered body with white patches on upper thighs, and, slim and pointed wings with a prominent whitish band on undersides. In flight, wings held above plane of body in a wide V. Sexes alike except that iris in males whitish or yellowish and in females dark brown. Juveniles with pinkish heads and feet, white down on head, dark eyes, more mottled dark-brown pluamge and whitish undertail coverts.

Often seen solitary, except when it forms breeding pairs or gather in 2s or 3s, with other birds of prey, at animal carcasses. A very territorial but timid bird, it usually refrains from fighting with other birds at a carcass. Instead it waits till the pressure of the other feasters has eased temporarily before sneaking in and hurriedly withdrawing with some flesh. It was known to have been excluded from feeding in the past by the larger Gyps species. Drastically dropping populations of Gyps have made this competitive exclusion much rarer now.

Carnivore. Main diet is carrion. Red-headed Vultures feed on the carcasses of a variety of species including those of fish, turtles, birds and large ungulates.

Inhabits open country near human habitation, also well wooded hills.

A. Global: Landmass Type: Continent Habitat systems: Terrestrial. Forest Dependency: Medium. Altitude: 0 - 2500 m. General Habitats: Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry; Savanna - Dry; Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry; Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry; Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas. B. Indian subcontinent: Open country near habitation, cultivation and semi-desert areas. Also in deciduous forests, foothills and river valleys. Usually found up to an altitude of 3000m above sea level.

Not endemic.

2,500-9,999 mature individuals (2007)

Decreasing

IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered

Red List Category & Criteria: Critically Endangered A2abce+3bce+4abce (ver 3.1) Year Published: 2009 Assessor/s: BirdLife International Reviewer/s: Bird, J., Butchart, S. & Symes, A. Contributor/s: Chan, S., Chunkino, G., Eames, J., Htin Hla, T., Rainey, H. & Round, P.

Main threat, leading to the loss of almost 94% of the Indian population of this species, is through consumption of livestock treated with the veterinary NSAID drugs like Diclofenac, carprofen, flunixin, ibuprofen and phenylbutazone. Other threats include cirect persecution of these birds by humans, faster waste disposal, and a decrease in ungulate populations by disease.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) India Listed Species:Yes. Appendix:II. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Global Listed Species:Yes. Appendix:II. AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds) Listed Species:No. IWPA (Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972) Listed Species:Yes. IWPA (Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972) Schedule:IV.