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ShrublandPlatform nestHuge · 2.0 kg
ID tip
The hooded vulture is a typical vulture, with a head that is usually pinkish-white, but flushes red when agitated, and a grey to black "hood". It has fairly uniform dark brown body plumage. It has broad wings for soaring and short tail feathers. This is one of the smaller Old World vultures. They are 62–72 cm (24–28 in) long, have a wingspan of 155–180 cm (61–71 in) and a body weight of 1.5–2.6 kg (3.3–5.7 lb). Both sexes are alike in appearance, although females often have longer eyelashes than males. Voice: Usually silent, but gives a shrill, sibilant whistle during copulation, and thin squealing calls both at nests and carcasses.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Hooded Vulture
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Hooded Vulture
The map shades 33 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain.
About the Hooded Vulture
The hooded vulture is an Old World vulture in the order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Necrosyrtes, which is sister to the larger Gyps genus, both of which are a part of the Aegypiinae subfamily of Old World vultures. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it has a widespread distribution with populations in southern, East and West Africa. It is a scruffy-looking, small vulture with dark brown plumage, a long thin bill, bare crown, face and fore-neck, and a downy nape and hind-neck. Its face is usually a light red colour. It typically scavenges on carcasses of wildlife and domestic animals.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Eastern BuzzardButeo japonicusThe eastern buzzard or Japanese buzzard is a medium to large bird of prey that is sometimes considered a subspecies of the widespread common buzzard.
White HawkPseudastur albicollisThe adult white hawk ranges from 46–56 cm (18–22 in) long with very broad wings and has a white head, body and underwings.
Hook-billed KiteChondrohierax uncinatusIt is a mid-sized, slender raptor with a large hooked bill.
Side by side: Hooded Vulture vs White Hawk · Hooded Vulture vs Hook-billed Kite
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