Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotos
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) — 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 Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Torgos
- Species tracheliotos
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lappet-faced Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Lappet-faced Vulture is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread, also Arabian Pen.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 7 kg, with a wing length of about 71.1 cm and a tail of around 33.9 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.5 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lappet-faced Vulture?
The Lappet-faced Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 7 kg.
Where does the Lappet-faced Vulture live?
The Lappet-faced Vulture is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, also Arabian Pen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Lappet-faced Vulture belong to?
The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Lappet-faced Vulture eat?
The Lappet-faced Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Lappet-faced Vulture migrate?
The Lappet-faced Vulture is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Lappet-faced Vulture endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
How large is the Lappet-faced Vulture's range?
The Lappet-faced Vulture has a mapped global range of about 8.5 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.