Hooded Vulture

Description:

A large entirely brown bird, but small vulture - about 70 cm in length, with a large soaring wings and a slender pale bill. Portrayed here is a juvenile bird. The nape and neck are covered by down - a special kind of fluffy feathery material forming a "hood"; brown and black in juvenile birds (like here) - adults have more greyish "hood". The face, crown and throat are naked and white in juveniles (pinkish in adult birds, and flush red when the bird is excited or agitated).

Habitat:

The hooded vulture is another Old World vulture, found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Here observed in Afar semi-desert to savanna; rather arid (pastoral) region. This year, they were observed close to pastures and human habitations in large numbers, like many other scavengers, as the time of my visit coincided with a start of another drought across Horn of Africa.

Notes:

Their population is often described as "common". Nevertheless, according to the IUCN list, this species has recently became critically endangered, with rapidly decreasing population due to hunting, poisoning and loss of habitat... It may be noted also that in these parts of Africa, these birds (and other vultures) are considered as bad omen and/or linked to witchcraft. As such, they are often a target of poisoning or hunting.