Hooded vulture

Description

The hooded vulture is a small vulture species that is easily recognized by its unique appearance. It’s body and wings are dark brown with white circles at the base of the neck. The head and neck is white-grey in adulthood and black/brown as a juvenile, giving the hood afterwhich they’re named. Their faces are pale pink and flush bright red when excited or agitated and they have blue-ringed eyes. The hooded vulture is a small bird, with a wingspan of about 1.5 meters and a weight of around 1-2 kg. Males and females look alike, although females tend to be slightly larger.

Hooded vultures are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, excluding Central Africa, in a variety of habitats including open savannah, wooded areas, and urban areas. They are not migratory and tend to stay within their territory year-round.

The diet of the hooded vulture is primarily scavenged carrion, including carcasses, small mammals, birds, and reptiles. In urban areas they will also pick through rubbish sites.

Behaviour and Breeding

Hooded vultures in South Africa are typically solitary or found in small groups, whereas populations in other parts of Africa can congregate in large groups around a carcass. They are not aggressive towards other vultures and will often wait until larger species have finished eating before approaching a carcass. Hooded vultures are highly social animals and are known to engage in courtship displays, including bowing, stretching, and bill-touching. They nest predominantly in tall trees and lay just one egg per breeding cycle.

Threats

Sadly, hooded vultures are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss, poisoning from pesticides and other chemicals, and hunting for traditional medicine and other uses. A survey of Nigerian medicinal traders found that 90% of all vulture parts came from hooded vultures. Conservation efforts are underway to protect hooded vulture populations, including captive breeding programs and efforts to reduce poisoning and other threats.