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Glite Dictionary
king vulture

king vulture

8.8
A large black-and-white bird with a colorful bare head that eats dead animals in Central and South America
  • noun
  • /kɪŋ ˈvʌltʃər/
  • US
translation icon : buitre rey
  • With its striking black-and-white plumage, the king vulture is easily recognizable in the skies of South America.

Examples

  • The king vulture is often seen soaring above the rainforests of Central America, thanks to its impressive wingspan.

  • Unlike Andean condors, with their white neck fluff, or king vultures, with their brilliant black-and-white feathers, California condors are not much to look at.

    Academic text (1999)

  • In many regions, the king vulture plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping to clean up animal carcasses.

Synonyms

Sarcorhamphus papa
vsking vulture
  • Specialized
9.9

A large black and white vulture with a colorful bare head

is the common English name used in everyday speech
Sarcorhamphus
vsking vulture
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of large vultures in the Americas that includes the king vulture

is the specific species within that broader taxonomic group

Surface Forms

king vulture singular
king vultures plural

Morphology

king + vulture

The meaning of 'king vulture' is compositionally transparent: it names a vulture distinguished as 'king' (i.e. large, prominent or notable), so a learner who knows 'king' and 'vulture' can infer it refers to a particular, striking species of vulture. This follows common noun-noun naming patterns for animals (e.g. king cobra), making the expression readily understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

King vulture comes from the bird's bright, crown-like head and large size. People saw a royal look in its head and thought of a king, and because it is a vulture, the name came to mean a 'large, impressive scavenger'.