With its striking, bare, red head and jet-black body, the red-headed vulture is unmistakable among vulture species. Despite being a medium-sized vulture, this species still possesses an impressive wingspan of over two metres. Both the head and legs are dark red and the neck is flanked by two broad, red folds of skin known as lappets. The black-feathered body is characterized by white patches on the flanks above the thighs, bare red patches either side of the crop and tapering wings. Males and females are similar, except for the eyes, which, in the male are white or yellowish, and dark in the female. Juvenile red-headed vultures have dark eyes and more mottled, dark brown plumage.