# Gyps rueppelli The Rüppell's griffon vulture is a large bird that soars high in the sky. It has a beautiful, fluffy neck and a wide wingspan, making it a spectacular sight as it glides over mountains and valleys. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Rüppell's griffon vulture ![Gyps rueppelli](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gyps_rueppelli_%28taxidermied%29_at_G%C3%B6teborgs_Naturhistoriska_Museum_8980.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gunnar Creutz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyps_rueppelli_%28taxidermied%29_at_G%C3%B6teborgs_Naturhistoriska_Museum_8980.jpg) ## Appearance The Gyps rueppelli is a large, shaggy-necked vulture with dark brown feathers and a pale, downy head. Its light underparts contrast with darker flight feathers, and it has a pale, horn-colored bill, making it look different from other dark vultures. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Gyps ## Interesting facts - Rüppell's vultures build large stick nests on dangerous, inaccessible cliff faces. - Sometimes hundreds of these vultures gather at one big meal together! - Their powerful beaks are perfect for tearing tough hide off of dead animals. - These vultures can soar for hours without flapping their wings, saving energy! ## Special abilities - **Sky Sentinel:** Gyps rueppelli can fly over 11 kilometers high, allowing them to spot meals across vast African landscapes. - **Germ Buster:** Gyps rueppelli has super strong stomach acid that destroys deadly bacteria found in rotting carcasses they eat. - **Bone Chomper:** Gyps rueppelli can digest small bone fragments, thanks to specialized enzymes, leaving very little waste behind. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-110 cm - **Wingspan:** 260-280 cm - **Weight:** 6.4-9 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 55-60 days ## Diet & Feeding These vultures are nature's clean-up crew, feasting on dead animals to keep the environment healthy. - **Primary Foods:** Carrion, Wildebeest, Zebra, Antelope - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Blue Wildebeest (*Connochaetes taurinus*) — Consumes carcasses of these common African grazers. - **Eats:** [Plains Zebra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plains-zebra) (*Equus quagga*) — Feeds on dead zebras, especially after migrations. - **Eats:** Thomson's Gazelle (*Gazella thomsonii*) — Scavenges smaller dead gazelles, aiding ecosystem cleanup. - **Symbiotic with:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Competes for carrion but both help clear carcasses. - **Eaten by:** Verreaux's Eagle (*Aquila verreauxii*) — Eggs and young chicks can be prey for this powerful bird. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gyps rueppelli? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gyps rueppelli? 90-110 cm ### What is Gyps rueppelli's wingspan? 260-280 cm ### How much does Gyps rueppelli weigh? 6.4-9 kg ### How long does Gyps rueppelli live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Gyps rueppelli move? 35 km/h ### What does Gyps rueppelli eat? These vultures are nature's clean-up crew, feasting on dead animals to keep the environment healthy. ### Where is Gyps rueppelli usually found? Mountain regions ## Where to spot - [Greenville Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenville-zoo) — South Carolina, US · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Gyps rueppelli: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gyps-rueppelli)