The Hooded vulture, we see many of these birds in The Gambia. Usually, on our regular beach walks to Sanyang on Sundays. There is usually a dead fish, turtle or some such thing and guaranteed anything from one to thirty vultures eagerly ripping at the carcus.
Bird information.
Where can we see a Hooded vulture?
The Hooded vultures pictured above were photographed at the quarry on the way to the beach and approximately midway between us and Sanyang. You can expect to find them anywhere there is a dead and rotting fish or animal.
What does a Hooded vulture look like?
It is a scruffy-looking, small vulture with dark brown plumage, a long thin bill, bare crown, face and fore-neck, and a downy nape and hind-neck. Its face is usually a light red colour. The hooded vulture is a typical vulture, with a head that is usually pinkish-white, but flushes red when agitated and a grey to black “hood”. It has fairly uniform dark brown body plumage and broad wings for soaring with short tail feathers. This is one of the smaller Old World vultures.
They are 62–72 cm long, have a 155–180 cm wingspan and a body weight of 1.5–2.6 kg. Both sexes appear alike, although females often have longer eyelashes than males. Juveniles look like adults, only darker and plainer, and body feathers have a purplish sheen. Source Wikipedia
What does it feed on?
Anything dead and also sometimes on insects such as termites when they emerge in large numbers.
Want to know an interesting Factoid?
It is critically endangered in most of the world except, in West Africa the biggest numbers are found right here in The Gambia.
How does it sound?
They don’t make much sound however they do have a hissing sort of whistle when coupling.
