Necrosyrtes monachus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_vulture
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Hooded Vulture faces catastrophic population declines across its African range, with numbers plummeting by over 80% in recent decades. Widespread poisoning from veterinary drugs like diclofenac, deliberate targeting by farmers protecting livestock, and persecution for traditional medicine practices represent the most severe threats. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and urban development further compounds these pressures, while collision with power lines causes additional mortality.
Habitat
Hooded Vultures inhabit open savannas, grasslands, and semi-arid regions across sub-Saharan Africa, often near human settlements where they scavenge around villages and towns. They prefer areas with scattered trees for nesting and roosting, adapting well to agricultural landscapes and pastoral systems.
