The Red-headed Vulture has a red to orange head as an adult; it is paler in juveniles. It occurs across India and feeds on carrion.
Adults have a bare red to orange head; the head is paler red in juveniles.
In India, the Red-headed Vulture is listed as a resident forest specialist. The 2025 national factsheet estimates its range at 213,076 square kilometres (95% confidence interval 212,467–213,685).
The India-wide long-term trend estimate is an 86.09% decrease (95% confidence interval 80.32–90.44% decrease), and the latest annual estimate is a 4.52% decrease (2.61–6.43% decrease). The woodland series estimates a 76.51% long-term decrease (59.94–85.54% decrease) and a 2.82% annual decrease (confidence interval from a 6.45% decrease to a 0.8% increase). Madhya Pradesh is identified as a key state for the species within this India-wide distribution estimate.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The India woodland habitat series estimates a 76.51% long-term decrease for the species. Madhya Pradesh is listed as a key state for Red-headed Vulture records.