Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotus

Game regions. Above and wings dark brown; below white; breast streaked dark brown; head and neck red; bill horn-coloured.

Vultures

Not Endemic

Description

Fairly common resident. A huge, massive-billed vulture. Adult has crimson head and neck, and streaked underparts with white ‘pants’, which contrast with dark body and underwings in flight. Immature has dark ‘pants’ and various amounts of white mottling on the mantle; the long feathers of its ruff can be raised to frame its head. Usually occurs in pairs in bushveld or, in the arid west, thornveld and desert. A powerfully built vulture that dominates all others at food sources. Feeding on Carrion, skin and bone fragments from all sized carcasses. Nesting in thorn trees. Has been known to kill own food. 5-9,3 kg

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Vultures are diurnal birds and, like other birds of prey are characterised by hooked bills suited to a mainly carnivorous diet. Vultures are typified by their large size, heavy, hooked bills, necks wholly or partially devoid of feathers (the exception being the aberrant Bearded Vulture) and, for birds of prey, relatively weak feet not suited to grasping prey. Vultures feed on carrion, soar with ease during much of the day and bathe in ponds and rivers. They are normally silent, but hiss and squeal when squabbling over food.