Normally, vultures aren't pretty. But I was very excited to see this beautiful King Vulture, a species that is hard to see in Costa Rica! It was real treat for us, visiting at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. "This vulture is a hearty scavenger with an exceptionally strong beak and it often is the one to make the initial cut into a fresh carcass. The King Vulture can soar effortlessly for hours, only flapping its wings on occasion. King vultures were popular figures in local folklore."