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Hooded Vulture

Necrosyrtes monachus

Size: One of the smallest and weakest vultures in its range, the Hooded Vulture is 26 inches long, with a 5 1/2 foot wingspan. Females are slightly larger than males.

Voice:

Diet/Feeding: The hooded vulture's thin, weak beak is constructed for removing meat from bones, but is not well adapted for ripping through the hide of a carcass. They often rely on larger scavengers or predators to do that work for them. Their feet are also weak, and are adapted for running & walking not for clutching prey. This vulture is not in a position to be a picky eater, and supplements its diet often with insects and garbage from towns.

Flight: Because it is smaller than many other vultures, the Hooded Vulture can take off more quickly, and is often the first to find a carcass.

Range/Habitat: This species is found South of the Sahara in Uganda, Kenya, & Tanzania. It inhabits Plains, Savannas, Forested areas, and Coastal areas. It is even comfortable occupying Villages, where it interacts extensively with humans.

Behavior: Bolder than most, the hooded vulture is often known to approach man. One common amusing behavior is the vulture's habit of following a plow, to enjoy the healthy grubs and insects it turns up.

As audatious as it may be around humans, this vulture is much more shy around its own kind. Though it is one of the more solitary vultures, the Hooded Vulture typically mates for life.

Life Cycle:

Breeding: Nests are built in trees and reused in following years. The nest is carefully lined with fresh greenery throughout the nesting season. A single egg is laid, and the mother is extremely devoted. She spends most of her time sitting protectively on her egg, and being fed by her mate. Young are born very weak, and require a great deal more parental attention than most other vulture young.

Status:

Folklore, Misc. Information: The hooded vulture's face is usually a greyish color, but can flush pink, red, or even bluish when it gets excited. When frightened, it pales to greenish-white.

A legend carried on by the Yoruba tribe of western Africa tells of a time when the land was dry from lack of rain, and the crops were dying. In order to make a sacrifice to the storm god (so he would bring rain), a ram was killed and put in a basket to be carried to heaven. All of the birds busied themselves with other tasks so that they would not have to perform the lowly task of carrying the ram to heaven. Finally, the vulture, who nobody liked, agreed to carry the sacrifice. At once, rain fell upon the land. When the vulture returned, he found that his home had been flooded and destroyed. When he went to the other birds for help, they all turned him away, forgetting his help. To this day, the vulture remains an outcast, eating food from dumps. And he remains bald because the fire of the sacrifice scorched the feathers from his head and neck.

On Africa's Gold Coast, the royal family at Kumasi valued the hooded vulture's scavenging work. They held the bird as sacred, and protected it by law.

A Hooded Vulture in many languages:

Latin: Necrosyrtes monachus, literally "a monk-like (bird) that drags away the dead"




				Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus


	Size: One of the smallest and weakest vultures in its range, the Hooded Vulture is 26 inches long, with a 5 1/2 foot wingspan. Females are slightly larger than males. Voice: Diet/Feeding: The hooded vulture's thin, weak beak is constructed for removing meat from bones, but is not well adapted for ripping through the hide of a carcass. They often rely on larger scavengers or predators to do that work for them. Their feet are also weak, and are adapted for running & walking not for clutching prey. This vulture is not in a position to be a picky eater, and supplements its diet often with insects and garbage from towns. Flight: Because it is smaller than many other vultures, the Hooded Vulture can take off more quickly, and is often the first to find a carcass. Range/Habitat: This species is found South of the Sahara in Uganda, Kenya, & Tanzania. It inhabits Plains, Savannas, Forested areas, and Coastal areas. It is even comfortable occupying Villages, where it interacts extensively with humans. Behavior: Bolder than most, the hooded vulture is often known to approach man. One common amusing behavior is the vulture's habit of following a plow, to enjoy the healthy grubs and insects it turns up. As audatious as it may be around humans, this vulture is much more shy around its own kind. Though it is one of the more solitary vultures, the Hooded Vulture typically mates for life. Life Cycle: Breeding: Nests are built in trees and reused in following years. The nest is carefully lined with fresh greenery throughout the nesting season. A single egg is laid, and the mother is extremely devoted. She spends most of her time sitting protectively on her egg, and being fed by her mate. Young are born very weak, and require a great deal more parental attention than most other vulture young. Status: Folklore, Misc. Information: The hooded vulture's face is usually a greyish color, but can flush pink, red, or even bluish when it gets excited. When frightened, it pales to greenish-white. A legend carried on by the Yoruba tribe of western Africa tells of a time when the land was dry from lack of rain, and the crops were dying. In order to make a sacrifice to the storm god (so he would bring rain), a ram was killed and put in a basket to be carried to heaven. All of the birds busied themselves with other tasks so that they would not have to perform the lowly task of carrying the ram to heaven. Finally, the vulture, who nobody liked, agreed to carry the sacrifice. At once, rain fell upon the land. When the vulture returned, he found that his home had been flooded and destroyed. When he went to the other birds for help, they all turned him away, forgetting his help. To this day, the vulture remains an outcast, eating food from dumps. And he remains bald because the fire of the sacrifice scorched the feathers from his head and neck. On Africa's Gold Coast, the royal family at Kumasi valued the hooded vulture's scavenging work. They held the bird as sacred, and protected it by law. A Hooded Vulture in many languages: Latin: Necrosyrtes monachus, literally "a monk-like (bird) that drags away the dead"