White-Backed Vulture

Introduction: White-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) prefer mopane type woodland, but are absent from forests, true desert and treeless grassland.

Distribution: Common in Etosha National Park, Caprivi and most central and northern regions of the country including the northern areas of the Namib Desert.

Diet: Follows other vultures, kites, Bateleurs and crows and watch lion kills with other scavengers ready to fight for scrapes of food. Has been recorded entering a carcass in a feeding frenzy and then becoming trapped before getting eaten itself by other birds of prey.

Description: Large vulture with brown plumage, paler underparts and off-white lower back and rump, hence the name. Has long powerful bill, distinctive hooked tip with sharp cutting edges. Sharp serrations on the stiff and channelled tongue allow for rapid feeding. The blunt claws on strong legs allow the feet to adapt for walking as opposed to grasping prey. Gyps is Greek for 'vulture'.

Breeding: A nest consists of a stick platform lined with dry grass where females lay only 1 egg incubated for a period of around 56 days.

Size: 100cm.

Weight: 5.5kg.

Wingspan: 2.2m.