Photo: GabrielBuissart / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 2 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 Necrosyrtes
- Species monachus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Hooded Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Hooded Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 47.1 cm and a tail of around 22.3 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Hooded Vulture?
The Hooded Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.
Where does the Hooded Vulture live?
The Hooded Vulture is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Hooded Vulture belong to?
The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Hooded Vulture eat?
The Hooded Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Hooded Vulture migrate?
The Hooded Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Hooded 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.
How large is the Hooded Vulture's range?
The Hooded Vulture has a mapped global range of about 10.8 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.