White-headed Vulture

Taxobox
name = White-headed Vulture

---

image_width = 240px
status = VU
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Accipitriformes
familia = Accipitridae
genus = "Trigonoceps"
genus_authority = Lesson, 1842
species = "T. occipitalis"
binomial = "Trigonoceps occipitalis"
binomial_authority = (Burchell, 1824)

The White-headed Vulture ("Trigonoceps occipitalis") is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. It has a pink beak, a white crest on its head and the featherless areas on its head are pale. Its has dark brown upper parts and a black tail. Feathers on its lower parts and legs are white. It has a wing span of 2 meters and spends a lot of time soaring looking for food. It roosts in tall trees near to water at night. This is a medium-sized vulture, 72-85 cm (28-34 in) in length and 207-230 cm (82-91 in) in wingspan. [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Trigonoceps_occipitalis/more_info.html?section=factsAndStatus] [http://books.google.com/books?id=hlIztc05HTQC&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=White-headed+Vulture+cm&source=web&ots=6wpr3P6GGA&sig=DOJtiXP8dNwO0VU7-Yy9JWJZtSM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result] Females weigh more than males; they usually weigh around 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs), while males weigh 4 kg (8.8 lbs) or less.

As it is rarer than previously believed, its conservation status was changed from Least Concern to Vulnerable in the 2007 IUCN Red List. [See BirdLife International (2007a,b).]

References

*|year=2004|id=49345|title=Trigonoceps occipitalis|downloaded=27 August 2007
* (2007a): [ [http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html 2006-2007 Red List status changes] ] . Retrieved 2007-AUG-26.
* (2007b): [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3382&m=0 White-headed Vulture - BirdLife Species Factsheet] . Retrieved 2007-MAY-21.

External links

* [http://www.lairweb.org.nz/vulture/white.html Vulture culture on lairweb]
* [http://www.nnf.org.na/RAPTORS/raptors_pges/whiteheadedvulture.htm Raptors of Namibia]