The Hooded Vulture is a medium
sized Old World Vulture and is the
only bird in the genus Necrosyrtes.
They naturally favour Savannahs upto
6,000 feet and are rarely seen in
desert and dry country. It has long,
broad wings and a characteristic long,
slender bill. The plumage is mostly brown
with sparse, light feathers on the neck and
head. In juveniles the head and neck
feathers are much darker and lighten and
recede as they mature. It relies on larger
vultures at a kill to open up the carcass.
It's bill has very limited strength and so it
feeds on softer exposed material.
The Hooded Vulture has become common
around human activity, frequenting markets
and rubbish dumps where it can easily
scavenge. They are quite tame and
unconcerned at the presence of human
beings. They readily form loose colonies,
building their nests in trees, often palm
trees. The female usually lays a single
egg that is incubated for upto 45 days.
