White-backed Vulture
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| Gyps africanus Salvadori, 1865 |
The White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European Griffon Vulture, G. fulvus. Sometimes, it is called African White-backed Vulture to distinguish it from the Oriental White-backed Vulture - nowadays usually called Indian White-rumped Vulture - with which it was formerly believed to be closely related.
It breeds in trees on the savannah of west and east Africa, laying one egg. The population is mostly resident.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over savannah and around human habitation. It often moves in flocks.
The White-backed Vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald head, very broad wings and short tail. It has a white neck ruff. The adult’s whitish back contrasts with the otherwise dark plumage. Juveniles are largely dark.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Gyps africanus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
