>>Genus Trigonoceps (White-headed Vulture)

White-headed Vulture

White-headed Vulture
At Las Águilas Jungle Park, Tenerife, Spain
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Trigonoceps Lesson, 1842
Species:	T. occipitalis
Binomial name
Trigonoceps occipitalis (Burchell, 1824)

The White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. It has a pink beak and a white crest, and the featherless areas on its head are pale. Its has dark brown upper parts and black tail feathers. The feathers on its lower parts and legs are white. It has a wing span of 2 m and spends a lot of time soaring looking for food. It roosts in tall trees near to water at night.

Description

Flying in Kruger National Park, South Africa

At Kasteeltuinen Arcen, Netherlands

At Las Aguilas Jungle Park, Tenerife, Spain

The White-headed Vulture is a medium-sized vulture, 72–85 cm (28–34 in) in length and 207–230 cm (82–91 in) in wingspan. Females weigh more than males; they usually weigh around 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs), while males weigh 4 kg (8.8 lbs) or less.

Status

The White-headed Vulture is rarer than previously believed, its conservation status was changed from Least Concern to Vulnerable in the 2007 IUCN Red List.