The importance of vultures is often underestimated. As scavengers, they play a crucial role—especially in hot regions—by reducing pollution and helping to prevent the spread of disease.
Most vultures are hardly considered beautiful, with their featherless heads adapted for hygiene and generally dull plumage. However, the King Vulture is a striking exception. I was fortunate to encounter and photograph this impressive bird, with its vividly coloured head, in Boca Tapada, Costa Rica close to the border of Nicaragua.