ChisaiiStudio

"Temple Sovereign"

King Vulture

18 1/2 x 26 1/2

Colored Pencil

Light Blue Colourfix Paper

According to Mayan legend, the King Vulture derives its name from a mythical pre-Columbian ruler who acted as messenger between man and the gods. With a wingspan of nearly 7 feet, this New World vulture is second only to the Andean condor in size and is easily the most strikingly colored of its kind. This beautiful bird's habitat extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and includes lowland tropical forests as well as any associated savannahs and grasslands. Although not officially listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, its numbers are declining, primarily due to habitat destruction.

King Vultures are non-migratory birds and live alone or in small groups. When perched, the bird is inconspicuous, holding its head in a forward and tucked position. King Vultures become sexually mature at five years of age and mate for life. Nests are often built in a tree hollow and usually contain only one egg which takes 32-38 days to hatch. The chick is born featherless but quickly develops black down and will eventually attain its adult white plumage after five years.

The King Vulture figures prominently in Mesoamerican culture, being one of the most common species represented in the Mayan and Aztec codices. Pre-Columbian glyphs often depict the bird as an anthropomorphized god with a human body and a bird head. The King Vulture is also used to represent Cozcacuauhtli - from the Aztec calender, and Cib - the thirteenth day of the Mayan calender.