Lappet faced vulture

Introduction: Lappet-faced vultures (Aegypius tracheliotus) inhabit open woodland in dry and semi-dry regions often with Acacia trees, Shepherds tree and mopane. Waterholes and pans are a great location to view these vultures, usually from late morning to afternoon. They roost singly or in pairs, in the evenings in trees. Lappet-faced vultures spend much of their time in flight gliding and soaring, as opposed to flapping their wings.

Distribution: Throughout Namibia including Etosha National Park, Namib Desert, Caprivi and Kalahari Desert.

Diet: Arrives at carcasses later than most other vultures when they dominate the feeding proceedings. Eats anything from vervet monkey to antelope, to elephant and domestic stock.

Description: Strong, deep bills, broad head, strong feet and long toes. Long and broad wings, relatively short neck with a ruff of short brown feathers. Tracheliotus is a Greek meaning for 'gristly ears' a reference to the head and neck wattles.

Breeding: Sticks of up to 2m long are used to construct a nest lined with dry grass. Females only lay 1 eggs, rarely 2, incubated over a period of 55 days.

Size: 100cm.

Weight: 6.5kg.

Wingspan: 2.5m