Bird Guide

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Least ConcernFruitForestPlatform nestHuge · 1.6 kg

About the Palm-nut Vulture

The palm-nut vulture or vulturine fish eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

This is a nearly unmistakable bird as an adult. At 1.3–1.7 kg (2.9–3.7 lb) in weight, 60 cm (2.0 ft) in length and with a wingspan of 1.50 m (4.9 ft), this is the smallest Old World vulture. Its plumage is all white except for black areas in its wings and tail. It has a red patch around each eye. The juvenile, which takes 3–4 years to mature, is brown with yellow eye-patches. In flight, this species resembles an eagle more than a typical vulture, and it can sustain flapping flight, so it does not depend on thermals.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Palm-nut Vulture lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Mali.

When to see the Palm-nut Vulture

Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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