Forms the head of the spikes and mediates the recognition of specific host cell surface glycans. It is the viral hemagglutinin and an important target of neutralizing antibodies. In sialic acid-dependent strains, VP8* binds to host cell sialic acid, most probably a ganglioside, providing the initial contact. In some other strains, VP8* mediates the attachment to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) for viral entry