Tanzania Vultures

[KevinA]

Two of the three vultures we saw in Tanzania

From Wikipedia "The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) or vulturine fish eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae (which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers, vultures, and eagles). It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax."

Palm-Nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis

From Wikipedia "The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that family of birds."

Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotos

 

[AlanLichty]

The one at the top isn't nearly as ugly as most of the vultures I have seen images of - nice capture. Does the palm-nut vulture actually hunt its own fish?

 

[KevinA]

The one at the top isn't nearly as ugly as most of the vultures I have seen images of - nice capture. Does the palm-nut vulture actually hunt its own fish?

My apologies Alan, I'd labeled them wrongly. The top bird is the Palm-nut Vulture. I was under the impression it was a vegetarian but we saw it eating carrion, so I got that wrong. I must confess I didn't know it was also called vulturine fish eagle.
Also from Wikipedia "Unusually for birds of prey, the palm-nut vulture feeds mainly on the fleshy fruit-husks of the oil palm and on the palm-fruits of Raffia palms, as well as wild dates, oranges, other fruits, some grains and acacia seeds. These fruits make up over 60% of the adult bird's diet and over 90% of the juvenile bird's diet. It has also been recorded to feed on crabs (both freshwater and marine), molluscs, frogs, tadpoles, fish, dung beetles, termites, alate ants, alate termites, locusts, small mammals, birds and their nestlings, snakes, other reptiles, even reptiles’ eggs and hatchlings, and it has been known to occasionally attack domestic poultry and feed on carrion."
I guess it doesn't actually catch fish.

 

[AlanLichty]

My apologies Alan, I'd labeled them wrongly. The top bird is the Palm-nut Vulture. I was under the impression it was a vegetarian but we saw it eating carrion, so I got that wrong. I must confess I didn't know it was also called vulturine fish eagle.
Also from Wikipedia "Unusually for birds of prey, the palm-nut vulture feeds mainly on the fleshy fruit-husks of the oil palm and on the palm-fruits of Raffia palms, as well as wild dates, oranges, other fruits, some grains and acacia seeds. These fruits make up over 60% of the adult bird's diet and over 90% of the juvenile bird's diet. It has also been recorded to feed on crabs (both freshwater and marine), molluscs, frogs, tadpoles, fish, dung beetles, termites, alate ants, alate termites, locusts, small mammals, birds and their nestlings, snakes, other reptiles, even reptiles’ eggs and hatchlings, and it has been known to occasionally attack domestic poultry and feed on carrion."
I guess it doesn't actually catch fish.

Thanks for the followup - that's quite different as vulture diets go but it looks quite different in the first place. Interesting bird.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Interesting birds, Kevin. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Two of the three vultures we saw in Tanzania

From Wikipedia "The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) or vulturine fish eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae (which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers, vultures, and eagles). It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax."

Palm-Nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
View attachment 69415


From Wikipedia "The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that family of birds."

Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotos
View attachment 69416

Kevin, the Palm Nut Vulture is very photogenic, love the pose.

Oliver

 

[KevinA]

Interesting birds, Kevin. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Douglas

Kevin, the Palm Nut Vulture is very photogenic, love the pose.

Oliver

Thank you Oliver, they're not normally that cooperative

 

[JimFox]

Wow Kevin,

The first vulture is actually not a bad looking bird. #2, which looks like the ones I see here is much more hideous and evil looking. Great job on capturing them, and also for the education on them.

 

[KevinA]

Wow Kevin,

The first vulture is actually not a bad looking bird. #2, which looks like the ones I see here is much more hideous and evil looking. Great job on capturing them, and also for the education on them.

Thanks Jim, ugly or not, they perform an essential job and I rather like them