About the White-rumped Vulture
The white-rumped vulture is an Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000, as the population severely declined. White-rumped vultures are threatened by diclofenac poisoning, which kills them by causing kidney failure. As of 2021, the global population was estimated at less than 6,000 mature individuals. In comparison, during the 1980s, the global population was estimated at several million individuals, and it was thought to be "the most abundant large bird of prey in the world".
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ID tip
The white-rumped vulture is the smallest of the Gyps vultures, but is still a very large bird. It weighs 3.5–7.5 kg (7.7–16.5 lb), measures 75–93 cm (30–37 in) in length, and has a wingspan of 1.92–2.6 m (6.3–8.5 ft). It has an unfeathered head and neck, very broad wings, and short tail feathers. It is much smaller than the Eurasian Griffon. It has a white neck ruff. The adult's whitish back, rump, and underwing coverts contrast with the otherwise dark plumage. The body is black and the secondaries are silvery grey. The head is tinged in pink and bill is silvery with dark ceres.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the White-rumped Vulture lives
When to see the White-rumped Vulture
Peak activity in February · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Indian VultureGyps indicusThe Indian vulture is bulky and medium in size.
Slender-billed VultureGyps tenuirostrisAt 80 to 95 cm (31 to 37 in), in length, this mid-sized vulture is about the same size as its sister species, the Indian vulture.
Cape VultureGyps coprotheresThis large vulture is of a creamy-buff colour, with contrasting dark flight and tail feathers.
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