Photo: Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Palm-nut Vulture
Gypohierax angolensis
Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Gypohierax
- Species angolensis
Where it lives
Senegal and Gambia to South Sudan and eastern Kenya, south to Angola and northeastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.6 kg
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Endangered
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Palm-nut Vulture is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Palm-nut Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to South Sudan and e Kenya, s to Angola and ne South Africa.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.6 kg, with a wing length of about 41.9 cm and a tail of around 19.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.7 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Palm-nut Vulture?
The Palm-nut Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 1.6 kg.
Where does the Palm-nut Vulture live?
The Palm-nut Vulture is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to South Sudan and e Kenya, s to Angola and ne South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Palm-nut Vulture belong to?
The Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Palm-nut Vulture eat?
The Palm-nut Vulture is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Palm-nut Vulture migrate?
The Palm-nut Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Palm-nut Vulture endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Palm-nut Vulture's range?
The Palm-nut Vulture has a mapped global range of about 9.7 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.