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Difference between revisions of "White-headed Vulture" - BirdForum Opus

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(Add Clearer Image - birdboybowley to species image, moved Gashead image to Identification section)
 
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[[File:White-headed_Vulture_BB.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|birdboybowley|birdboybowley}}<br />[[Ethiopia]], 13 October 2017]]
 
;[[:Category:Trigonoceps|Trigonoceps]] occipitalis
 
;[[:Category:Trigonoceps|Trigonoceps]] occipitalis
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[[Image:White-headed_Vulture.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Gashead]]
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''Aegypius occipitalis''
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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White crest, pale featherless areas on its head, dark brown upperparts, black tail, white lower parts and legs, pink bill. It has a wing span of 2 metres.  
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[[Image:White-headed_Vulture.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Gashead|Gashead}}<br />[[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], May 2005]]
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Length 85 cm, mass 3.3-5.3 kg, females larger than males<br />
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*White crest
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*Pale featherless areas on its head
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*Dark brown upperparts
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*Black tail
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*White lower parts and legs
 +
*Pink bill
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*Wing span 2 metres.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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[[Senegal]] in the west to [[Sudan]] and [[Eritrea]] in the north, and south to the [[Orange River]], parts of the [[Northern Cape]] and [[Zululand]].  
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[[Africa]]: breeds across sub-Saharan Africa from [[Senegal]] east to [[Ethiopia]] and north-west [[Somalia]] and south through the eastern half of the continent to the Cape. Uncommon over large parts of range. may still breed in northern [[Mauritania]], the Tibesti of northern [[Chad]] and in south-east [[Egypt]].
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Now extinct as a wild bird in [[Israel]], where formerly bred in the Negev Desert but may still breed within the [[Western Palearctic]] in northern [[Saudi Arabia]].
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Adults are sedentary but young birds may wander widely. Small numbers are regularly seen in southern Egypt especially between Aswan and Abu Simbel and still occasionally recorded in Israel. Formerly more widespread as a breeding bird in North-West Africa but now largely a vagrant. Also recorded in [[Syria]], [[Jordan]] and in [[Libya]].
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In addition, there is one 19th Century record from [[France]] and possibly also recorded in [[Spain]].  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Mixed woodland, open plains and thornbush.  
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Semi-desert and sparsely wooded grasslands.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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The nest is built in the top of an acacia. 1 egg is laid and incubated by both parents for 55-56 days. The chick will fledge at approximately four months.  
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It roosts in tall trees near to water at night.
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====Breeding====
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The nest is built in the top of an acacia. One egg is laid and incubated by both parents for 55-56 days. The chick will fledge at approximately four months.  
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====Diet====
 
The diet includes carrion and small mammals.
 
The diet includes carrion and small mammals.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#ARKive
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Vulture+occipitalis}}
  
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It roosts in tall trees near to water at night.
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Trigonoceps]]
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==External Links==
 
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{{GSearch|Trigonoceps+occipitalis}}
 
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Trigonoceps]][[category:incomplete]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:39, 4 February 2021

Photo © by birdboybowley
Ethiopia, 13 October 2017
Trigonoceps occipitalis

Aegypius occipitalis

Identification

Photo by Gashead
Kruger National Park, South Africa, May 2005

Length 85 cm, mass 3.3-5.3 kg, females larger than males

  • White crest
  • Pale featherless areas on its head
  • Dark brown upperparts
  • Black tail
  • White lower parts and legs
  • Pink bill
  • Wing span 2 metres.

Distribution

Africa: breeds across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia and north-west Somalia and south through the eastern half of the continent to the Cape. Uncommon over large parts of range. may still breed in northern Mauritania, the Tibesti of northern Chad and in south-east Egypt.

Now extinct as a wild bird in Israel, where formerly bred in the Negev Desert but may still breed within the Western Palearctic in northern Saudi Arabia.

Adults are sedentary but young birds may wander widely. Small numbers are regularly seen in southern Egypt especially between Aswan and Abu Simbel and still occasionally recorded in Israel. Formerly more widespread as a breeding bird in North-West Africa but now largely a vagrant. Also recorded in Syria, Jordan and in Libya.

In addition, there is one 19th Century record from France and possibly also recorded in Spain.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Semi-desert and sparsely wooded grasslands.

Behaviour

It roosts in tall trees near to water at night.

Breeding

The nest is built in the top of an acacia. One egg is laid and incubated by both parents for 55-56 days. The chick will fledge at approximately four months.

Diet

The diet includes carrion and small mammals.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. ARKive

Recommended Citation

External Links

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