King Vulture: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — This portrait shot of a mature King Vulture shows off most of the weirdness of the weird bird. Note the bright bare skin of the neck and the buzz cut fuzz on the top of the head, and, of course the big orange carbuncle (or wattle) surrounding the nostrils…what is that all about? Then there is the large external crop, pretty full on this bird. They can suck that back behind the breast feathers when they choose, but this bird was pretty relaxed. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.