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White Headed Vulture

todayJanuary 1, 2025 3

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White Headed Vulture . 
An uncommon resident that is highly endangered and only seen in national parks and adjoining private game reserves in South Africa. 
 
They are seen as single birds or in pairs usually joining other vulture species at large carcasses . Their  food source is carrion and also smaller prey down to the size of hairs which they kill themselves . Flying termites , lizards , guinea fowls , nesting flamingoes and their eggs are also eaten . 
 
They roost in trees at night flying out early to forage within a restricted territory . They usually arrive first at a carcass but cannot compete with the larger vultures as they arrive , they then start to pirate chunks from them .   
 
These Vultures are usually silent but have a shrill chattering around carcasses . 
 
Breeding takes place from May to August . The nest is a large platform of sticks lined with grass on top of baobab trees . One white egg with brown streaks is laid . Incubation is done by both sexes taking around 55 days followed by a nestling period of 110 days .   
 
Tribal people call them Gora and in Afrikaans die Witkopassvoel . 

Written by: mike

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