THE ROLE OF GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURES CATHARTES-MELAMBROTUS AS SCAVENGERS IN NEOTROPICAL FOREST

The scavenging activities of Greater Yellow-headed Vultures Cathartes melambrotus were studied in the Amacayacu National Park, Colombia. Thi s species is the most abundant vulture in the area and is usually the first species to locate a carcass, both in open clearings and inside t he forest. The birds use olfaction to locate food. Vultures located 63 % of provided carcasses, while mammalian scavengers found only 5%. Gre ater Yellow-headed Vultures were displaced when feeding by both Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura and King Vultures Sarcorhamphus papa.