edge-of-existence-edge:
The king vulture is best known for its beautifully coloured face and head, and is thus considered more “charismatic” than most other vulture species. These colours are not feathers, but rather patterns directly on the bird’s skin. Like many vultures, the king vulture’s head is almost entirely bald (save for some bristle-like black feathers). This prevents rotting meat and blood from being trapped in the vulture’s feathers, possibly leading to bacterial infections, when the bird feeds.
Sig Nordal 