Photo: Alexf / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 5.4 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 africanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.4 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-backed Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-backed Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.4 kg, with a wing length of about 57.8 cm and a tail of around 22.5 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 10.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-backed Vulture?
The White-backed Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 5.4 kg.
Where does the White-backed Vulture live?
The White-backed Vulture is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-backed Vulture belong to?
The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the White-backed Vulture eat?
The White-backed Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the White-backed Vulture migrate?
The White-backed Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-backed 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-backed Vulture make?
1 real field recording of the White-backed 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-backed Vulture's range?
The White-backed Vulture has a mapped global range of about 10.5 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.