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Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
4.77489, 39.2555
Field Notes
Description:
A large, entirely brown, bird (of prey), but small vulture - about 70 cm in length, with a large soaring wings and a slender pale bill. The nape and neck are covered by down - a special kind of fluffy feathery material forming a "hood". The face, crown and throat are naked and pinkish in adult birds, and flush red when the bird is excited or agitated.
Habitat:
The hooded vulture is an Old World vulture, found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, observed several times in urban settings in mainly agro-pastoral area of Oromiya, Borena; in a small town named Hudet. Hudet is located in semi-arid acacia savanna, and is surrounded by agricultural fields - mainly vegetable homegardening.
Notes:
The population of these vultures is often described as "common", in areas they inhabit. Nevertheless, according to the IUCN list, this species has recently became critically endangered, with rapidly decreasing population due to hunting, poisoning and loss of habitat... It may be noted also that in many parts of Africa, vultures in general are considered as bad omen and/or linked to witchcraft. As such, they are often a target of poisoning or hunting.
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