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White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
13.5593, 16.3136
Field Notes
Description:
Relatively small Gyps vulture, about 1 m in length. Adult (photo 1 - 3) has white lower back with pale brown upperwing coverts; while underwing coverts are white. Typical vulture in its appearance, with fluffy dark feathers on head and neck, dark eye and dark bill. Juvenile (photo 4 & 5) is more dark in general appearance, with whitish head and neck.
Habitat:
Savannah and open woodland, nesting and roosting in trees. Seen mainly in West and Central Africa, and the population is resident, often seen in flocks and around human habitations.
Their population is often described as "common".
Nevertheless, according to the IUCN list, this species is critically endangered, with decreasing population - it may be noted that in these parts of Africa, these birds (and other vultures) are considered as bad omen and/or linked to which-craft. As such, they are often a target of poisoning or hunting.
Notes:
For me, this was another lucky find during my first visit to Chad in 2014, while I worked in Grand Kanem - I never saw that many different vultures like in that region.
During the return from a field visit, my colleagues saw these two roosting on that tree. When I approached (keeping a safe distance of course) this family actually spotted me (that was my feeling at least) but ignored me totally, and let me watch them and take as many photos as I wanted... That was really another great moment from that trip...
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