Hooded Vulture

The hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is a small Old World vulture native to sub-Saharan Africa and a member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards, and hawks. It is the sole extant representative of the genus Necrosyrtes and is closely related to the larger Gyps vultures, with both belonging to the subfamily Aegypiinae. Historically widespread and abundant, the hooded vulture has undergone severe population declines across much of its range and is currently classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The species is particularly notable for its close association with human settlements, its ecological role as a scavenger, and the rapidity of its recent decline, which rivals that of the Asian vulture crisis of the late twentieth century.

Etymology and Taxonomic Position

The common name hooded vulture derives from the small patch of pale, downy feathers extending from the nape to the crown, giving the appearance of a soft hood. The scientific name Necrosyrtes monachus reflects both its feeding habits and appearance. Necro- refers to carrion, syrtes is derived from Greek terms for bogs or quicksand, and monachus is Latin for monk, alluding to the hood-like feathering reminiscent of a monk’s cowl.
Within the Old World vultures, Necrosyrtes is regarded as a sister genus to Gyps. Despite similarities in scavenging behaviour, the hooded vulture is morphologically and ecologically distinct, occupying a unique niche as a smaller, more generalist scavenger.

Description and Physical Characteristics

The hooded vulture is among the smallest of the Old World vultures. Adults typically measure around 62–72 cm in length, with a wingspan of approximately 155–165 cm and a body mass ranging from about 1.5 to 2.6 kg. Both sexes are similar in appearance, although females may possess slightly longer eyelashes.
The species has generally dark brown body plumage, broad wings adapted for soaring, and a relatively short tail. The head and foreneck are largely bare, with skin that is usually pinkish-white but can flush deep red when the bird is agitated or excited. A grey to black hood frames the head, while the nape and hindneck are covered with fine down. The bill is long, slender, and dark, well suited for probing carcasses and waste. Juveniles resemble adults but are darker, plainer, and often show a purplish sheen to the body feathers.

Vocalisations

Hooded vultures are usually silent birds. However, they may emit a shrill, sibilant whistle during copulation, as well as thin squealing or hissing calls at nests and feeding sites. These vocalisations are generally brief and situational rather than part of regular communication.

Distribution and Range

The hooded vulture has a wide but increasingly fragmented distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. In West Africa, it occurs in countries such as Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Niger, and Nigeria. In East Africa, its range includes Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. In southern Africa, it has been recorded in northern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Within South Africa, the species is now largely restricted to the Kruger National Park and adjacent protected areas in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, with occasional vagrants reported further west. Although hooded vultures have relatively small home ranges compared with larger vultures, their overall distribution historically covered much of the African continent south of the Sahara.

Habitat Preferences

The hooded vulture occupies a variety of habitats, demonstrating considerable ecological flexibility. It is found in open savannas, grasslands, deserts, woodland edges, forest margins, coastal regions, and increasingly within urban and peri-urban environments. The species often occurs at higher densities in areas where larger Gyps vultures are scarce or absent. Although it has been recorded at elevations up to 4,000 metres, it is most common below 1,800 metres.
Nesting sites are typically located in tall, well-foliaged trees, often along watercourses. Palms are frequently used, but nests may also occur in other tree species depending on local availability.

Ecology and Feeding Behaviour

Like all vultures, the hooded vulture is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carcasses of wild and domestic animals. Unlike larger vultures, it is also highly opportunistic and readily consumes refuse, slaughterhouse waste, and organic debris around human habitation. In West Africa, it is strongly commensal with humans and is sometimes referred to locally as a “garbage collector”.
The species also feeds on insects and is known to congregate in large numbers during mass insect emergences, such as termite swarms, sometimes in association with raptors like the steppe eagle. Hooded vultures often forage in flocks of 50–250 individuals in West Africa, particularly at abattoirs or large carcasses, whereas southern African populations tend to be more solitary and secretive.
They are frequently observed following other predators and scavengers, including hyenas and African wild dogs, to locate feeding opportunities.

Breeding Biology and Behaviour

Hooded vultures are generally monogamous and may breed singly or in loose colonies. Breeding timing varies geographically but typically coincides with the dry season. In both hemispheres, breeding usually occurs during the local dry summer.
The nest is a stick platform placed high in the canopy, often more than 15 metres above the ground. A single egg is laid per breeding attempt. The incubation period lasts approximately 46–54 days, followed by a fledging period of around 80–130 days. After fledging, juveniles remain dependent on their parents for an additional three to four months.
Breeding success is relatively low, as is typical for long-lived scavenging birds. Studies from protected areas in South Africa indicate fewer than one fledgling produced per pair per year.

Population Trends

Despite its former abundance, the hooded vulture has experienced dramatic declines across most of its range. While populations in parts of The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau remain relatively stable, declines of more than 80 per cent have been recorded in regions such as Senegal over the past five decades. Across its range, the species has declined by an estimated average of over 80 per cent within approximately three generations.
The global population is estimated at fewer than 200,000 individuals, with the highest current regional density found in western Gambia.

Conservation Status and Threats

The hooded vulture is currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. The principal drivers of its decline include poisoning, hunting, habitat loss, and collision or electrocution on electricity infrastructure.
Poisoning represents the most severe threat. Birds are often killed unintentionally after feeding on carcasses laced with toxins intended for mammalian predators, or deliberately poisoned by poachers seeking to avoid detection by circling vultures. Hunting for traditional medicine and belief-based practices is widespread, particularly in West and southern Africa, where vulture parts are believed to confer health, intelligence, or success.
Consumption as bushmeat, though more localised, also contributes to mortality, and smoked vulture meat has entered international trade. Secondary threats include habitat degradation, disturbance at nesting sites, and disease, including possible susceptibility to avian influenza.