Appearance:
The Rüppell's griffon vulture has patchy black or brown blotches over its body, with a whitish brown underbelly and thin, dirty-white fluff covering its neck and head. It has a white collar at the base of its neck, yellow or amber eyes, and a dark chocolate brown crop patch.
These birds have a powerful bill used to rip meat, hide and even bones off of a carrion carcass. Their tongues have backward-facing spines which help them remove meat from bone.
Size:
- Length: Approx. 3 feet
- Weight: 15 - 20 pounds
- Wingspan: 8 feet
Diet:
In the wild, Rüppell's griffon vultures are scavengers, eating the carcass and remains of dead animals.
Reproduction:
Rüppell's griffon vultures are monogamous, and after mating, both the male and female share nesting duties, incubating one egg for about 55 days. After hatching, chicks fledge at around 160 days of age.
Behavior:
These social birds nest in colonies of up to 100 pairs or more. Unlike some vultures, the Rüppell's griffon vulture is completely dependent on locating large carcasses instead of supplementing with live prey. Therefore, birds must travel long distances (up to nearly 100 miles) from their nest in source of food. Luckily, these birds are fast, traveling up to 22 miles per hour. They can ascent to heights of approximately 20,000 feet.
Vultures rely on keen eyesight to locate food. They'll communicate to other vultures through a circling motion to alert them that a carcass has been spotted.
Habitat/Range:
Rüppell's griffon vultures live in more arid and mountainous areas of Africa, particularly in semi-desert and the fringes of deserts. They can be found roosting on rock ledges if present, or in trees, typically the Acacia.
Median Life Expectancy:
Rüppell's griffon vultures live for 30-40 years in captivity. Their life expectancy in the wild is unknown.