Photo: Ravi.sangeetha / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis
White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 4.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Gyps
- Species bengalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.4 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-rumped Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-rumped Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Iran through se Asia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.4 kg, with a wing length of about 55.2 cm and a tail of around 21.4 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-rumped Vulture?
The White-rumped Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 4.4 kg.
Where does the White-rumped Vulture live?
The White-rumped Vulture is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Iran through se Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-rumped Vulture belong to?
The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the White-rumped Vulture eat?
The White-rumped Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the White-rumped Vulture migrate?
The White-rumped Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-rumped Vulture endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the White-rumped Vulture make?
1 real field recording of the White-rumped Vulture — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-rumped Vulture's range?
The White-rumped Vulture has a mapped global range of about 3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.