Rüppell's Griffon
NameRüppell's Griffon
Common NameRüppell's Griffon
Scientific NameGyps rueppellii
FamilyAccipitridae
Wingspan (cm)250
Length (cm)94
Weight (g)8000
Plumage DetailsAdults have a mottled dark brown body plumage with pale feather edges, giving a scaly appearance. The head and neck are covered in sparse, whitish down, and there is a distinctive fluffy white ruff at the base of the neck. Flight feathers are dark.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent, but can produce a range of hisses, grunts, and shrieks when competing for food at a carcass or around the nest.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsgrassland, mountain, desert
Conservation Statuscritically-endangered
Geographic RangeFound across the Sahel region of Africa, from Senegal and Mauritania in the west, east through Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, and south to Kenya and Tanzania.
Identifying Featureslarge size, pale head and neck, mottled brown body plumage, white neck ruff, high-altitude soaring flight
Description
The Rüppell's Griffon is a large Old World vulture renowned for its ability to fly at extremely high altitudes, making it one of the highest-flying birds. It is a social scavenger, typically found soaring over open landscapes in search of carrion.
