Hooded Vulture

necrosyrtes monachus

The Hooded Vulture is known for its unique hood-like feathers on its head. These birds play an important role in nature by eating dead animals and keeping the environment clean.

Habitat: Hooded Vultures are commonly found in open savannas and grasslands across Africa.

Appearance

The Hooded Vulture is a medium-sized bird with dull brownish-black feathers. It has a pale, featherless pinkish-red head and neck, often appearing 'hooded' with soft downy feathers. Its slender bill helps it reach small food.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAccipitriformesFamilyAccipitridaeGenusNecrosyrtes

Photo: Charles J. SharpCC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Hooded Vulture

Interesting facts

Wow! Hooded Vultures have a super strong stomach acid that kills dangerous bacteria in rotting food!

Wow! Hooded Vultures often hang out near people, scavenging scraps in villages and dumps!

Wow! Their bare head and neck stay clean, even when they stick it deep inside carcasses to eat!

Wow! They are sometimes called "nature's clean-up crew" for getting rid of dead animals!

Special abilities

Hooded Vultures can eat rotting meat because it helps clean up the environment and stop diseases from spreading.

Hooded Vultures have excellent eyesight that helps them spot small bits of food and scraps from high in the sky.

Hooded Vultures' slender bill and smaller size helps them find food in tight spots bigger vultures cannot reach.

Hooded Vultures can soar effortlessly on warm air currents, using less energy to find food over vast distances.

Measurements & details

Length: 60-70 cm
Wingspan: 150-170 cm
Weight: 1.5-2.6 kg
Lifespan: 20-30 years
Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 1
Incubation: 48-54 days

Diet & Feeding

These vultures are nature's clean-up crew, eating dead animals and discarded food scraps to keep environments tidy.

Primary Foods

Carrion
Refuse
Insects
Faeces
Eggs
Small live prey

Foraging Method

Scavenging

Ecological connections

Eats

Cattle

Bos taurus

Scavenges on carcasses of dead cattle in open fields.

Depends on

African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Follows herds, waiting to scavenge naturally deceased elephants.

Eats

Humans

Homo sapiens

Feeds on discarded food and waste found in human settlements.

Depends on

Lion

Panthera leo

Waits for lions to finish eating from large kills for leftovers.

Depends on

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

Often seen near hyenas, benefiting from their hunting and scavenging.

Traits

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Decomposer

Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Carnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.

Migratory

Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always observe wildlife from a distance, and never approach or feed wild animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Hooded Vulture?

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 Hooded Vulture?

60-70 cm

What is Hooded Vulture's wingspan?

150-170 cm

How much does Hooded Vulture weigh?

1.5-2.6 kg

How long does Hooded Vulture live?

20-30 years

How fast can Hooded Vulture move?

50 km/h

What does Hooded Vulture eat?

These vultures are nature's clean-up crew, eating dead animals and discarded food scraps to keep environments tidy.