Trigonoceps occipitalis
The White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) is a striking Old World vulture, immediately recognizable by its contrasting plumage and unique facial features. Measuring 72-85 cm (28-33 in) in length with a wingspan of 207-227 cm (81-89 in) and weighing 3.3-5.3 kg (7.3-11.7 lb), it is a medium-large raptor. Adults boast a distinctive white crown and nape, a bare pink face, cere, and legs, contrasting sharply with its dark brown to black body and wing coverts. Its underwing often displays ...
Found primarily in open woodlands, savannas, and thornbush, often near large trees for nesting. Typically inhabits elevations from sea level up to 3,000 meters.
Primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion of various sizes, with a preference for larger mammal carcasses. They are particularly adept at consuming tougher parts of a carcass, including hide and sinew, left by other predators or vultures.
White-headed Vultures are largely diurnal, spending mornings soaring to locate carcasses and evenings roosting communally or solitarily in tall trees. Unlike many other vultures, they are often solitary foragers, preferring to find their own food rather than joining large aggregations, though the...
The White-headed Vulture is found patchily across sub-Saharan Africa, primarily within an equatorial belt. Its distribution extends from Senegal and Gambia in the west, through the Sahel and East Africa, down to Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa). Historically widespread,...
Critically Endangered
- The White-headed Vulture is the sole species in its genus, *Trigonoceps*, making it evolutionarily distinct among vultures. - Its striking white head and bright pink face, cere, and legs make it one of Africa's most easily identifiable raptors. - Unlike most other vultures that feed in large fl...