Rüppell's Griffon Vulture

Gyps rueppellii

Rüppell's Griffon Vulture, photo © by Michael Plagens

Near a water hole at Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Dec. 2014.

Similar Vulture:

White-backed Vulture, photo © Michael Plagens

From Wikipedia: These are large birds, noticeably outsizing the closely related white-backed vulture, with which they often co-occur in the wild. Adults wingspan of 2.26 to 2.6 metres, and a weight that ranges from 6.4 to 9 kg. Both genders look alike: mottled brown or black overall with a whitish-brown underbelly and thin, dirty-white fluff covering the head and neck. The base of the neck has a white collar, the eye is yellow or amber, the crop patch deep brown. Silent as a rule, they become vocal at their nest and when at a carcass, squealing a great deal.

Accipitridae -- Hawk and Falcon Family

Books:

  • Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania by Zimmerman et al.
  • Birds of East Africa by Stevenson and Fanshawe

More Information:


Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 28 Aug. 2015