Palm nut Vulture

Copyright waived by Ron Eggert of birdingafrica.net for educational and non-profit making purpose, subject to acknowledgement.

It breeds in trees in Africa south of the Sahara, laying one egg. Birds may form loose colonies. The population is resident.

Palm-nut Vultures are found in savannah, forest and around human habitation. It can become very confiding, and will frequent hotel gardens and lawns in the tourist areas of countries like The Gambia.

This species has a unique diet for a bird of prey: it feeds largely on the husk of oil palm[?] nuts. However, like other Vultures, it will scavenge carrion, especially dead fish.

Palm-nut vulture has a feathered head with a bare orange facial patch. This small vulture is eagle-like in shape, with less broad wings than typical vultures.

It has a white head and underparts, but a black back. The wings are white except for the secondaries and wing tips. The tail is black with a white terminal band. Sexes are alike. Juveniles, which take 5 years to mature, have tawny plumage with a yellowish face patch.