Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

Other Names (World)
Cape Vulture, Cape Griffon, Kolbe's Vulture

Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles)

Size
100 - 115 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Forster, 1798)

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical lowland moist forest, lowland dry shrubland, temperate grassland, dry savanna, hot desert.

Range (Guide)

Botswana (B) (NB), Lesotho (B) (NB), Mozambique (B) (NB), Namibia (E) (NB), South Africa (B) (NB), Swaziland (E) (NB), Zimbabwe (NB).

Vagrant to Angola, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Zambia (NB).

Centred on Lesotho and South Africa, extending to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and Swaziland, rarely wandering north to Zambia.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 8,000 - 10,000 (2010) and decreasing.

Status EN
Accidental poisoning on agricultural land, electrocution on pylons, collision with overhead cables and with vehicles, food-stress during chick-rearing, persecution (including collection for traditional medicines), disturbance at colonies, and drowning are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Loud cackles, grunts, hisses and roars.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) [XC369789]
by id from Msikaba Gorge 31\u00b018'6.80\, South Africa (call)

Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) and Ruppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), and possibly also with Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis) and Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus). Sometimes considered conspecific with Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus).

No subspecies.

Similar Species
White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) which is smaller and, usually, darker, with more streaking and different wing pattern.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Cape Vulture see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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