White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus - some photos and notes

White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus

White-backed Vulture, Mole, Ghana, June 2011 - click for larger image

Mole National Park, Ghana and Ethiopia

The White-backed Vulture is distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is absent from dense forest and desert but found in savannas and woodland where it feeds on carrion and bones. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

It usually soars with other vultures until they find a suitable source of food.

In flight the black flight feathers contrast with the whitish underwing coverts and the back and rump are also white.

White-backed Vulture, Koka Dam, Ethiopia, January 2016 - click for larger image

There has been increasing concern about this species as its population is in rapid decline with an 83% decline in population over three generations. As a result it is classified as Critically Endangered.

There are several contributing factors including loss of habitat and a rapid decline in the number of wild ungulates that are a source of carrion, persecution, hunting, poisoning and accidents with power lines. Poisoning frequently occurs when the vultures feed on carcasses of livestock that have been treated with the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac which is fatal for the vultures.

White-backed Vulture, Bogol, Ethiopia, January 2016 - click for larger image

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