Gyps bengalensis
The White-rumped Vulture, Gyps bengalensis, is a medium-sized Old World Vulture, characterized by its dark plumage, striking white rump, and pale underwing linings that contrast sharply with the dark flight feathers, making it distinctive in flight. Adults typically measure 75-93 cm (30-37 in) in length with an impressive wingspan of 1.8-2.1 meters (5.9-6.9 ft) and weigh 3.5-7.5 kg (7.7-16.5 lbs). Its bald head and neck, crucial for hygiene when feeding on carrion, are typically dark grey in ...
Primarily found in open country, cultivated areas, grasslands, and savannas, often near human settlements and livestock, preferring lowlands and foothills up to 1500 meters.
Exclusively an obligate scavenger, feeding primarily on the carrion of large mammals, particularly cattle, utilizing its strong beak and neck to access internal organs.
White-rumped Vultures are highly social and diurnal, spending their days soaring effortlessly on thermals in search of carrion and gathering in large communal roosts in tall trees or on cliffs at night. Their foraging strategy relies on keen eyesight from high altitudes and observing the movement...
Historically, the White-rumped Vulture enjoyed a vast distribution across South and Southeast Asia, ranging from Pakistan eastward through India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and even Singapore. However, its range has dramatically contracted, an...
Critically Endangered
- The White-rumped Vulture holds the tragic distinction of being one of the fastest declining bird species in recorded history. - Its catastrophic decline, estimated at over 99% in just a few decades, was primarily caused by the veterinary drug Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory given to livestock....