White-backed Vulture
A species of Griffon Vultures and Allies Scientific name : Gyps africanus Genus : Griffon Vultures and Allies
White-backed Vulture, A species of Griffon Vultures and Allies
Botanical name: Gyps africanus
Genus: Griffon Vultures and Allies
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Description People often ask General Info
Description
The white-backed vulture is a typical vulture, with only down feathers on the head and neck, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff. The adult's whitish back contrasts with the otherwise dark plumage. Juveniles are largely dark. This is a medium-sized vulture; its body mass is 4.2 to 7.2 kilograms (9.3–15.9 lb), it is 78 to 98 cm (31 to 39 in) long and has a 1.96 to 2.25 m (6 to 7 ft) wingspan. Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of animals which it finds by soaring over the savannah. It also takes scraps from human habitations. It often moves in flocks. It breeds in trees on the savannah of west and eastern and southern Africa, laying one egg. The population is mostly resident.
Size
94 cm
Colors
Brown
Black
Bronze
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
19 years
Feeding Habits
White-backed Vulture consumes carrion, especially soft tissue from animals such as warthogs and zebras. They locate food by soaring and following other scavengers, signaling findings with circling flight. Their beaks can't tear tough skin, so they prefer softer carcasses.
Habitat
White-backed Vulture typically inhabits open savannas and a variety of woodland areas. These birds are predominantly found across regions characterized by open landscapes such as savannas, steppes, and sparse dry woodlands. They tend to avoid extreme desert conditions and dense forests, preferring broader geographical areas that support their scavenging lifestyle and flight patterns necessary for soaring while searching for food.
Dite type
Scavenger
People often ask
General Info
Species Status
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Not considered of conservation concern until 2007, after which its threat status has been successively elevated, becoming Critically Endangered in 2015.