Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae (Accipítrids)
- GenusNecrosyrtes
- SpeciesNecrosyrtes monachus (Hooded Vulture)
The hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is an Old World vulture in the order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Necrosyrtes, which is sister to the larger Gyps genus, both of which are a part of the Aegypiinae subfamily of Old World vultures. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it has a widespread distribution with populations in southern, East and West Africa. It is a scruffy-looking, small vulture with dark brown plumage, a long thin bill, bare crown, face and fore-neck, and a downy nape and hind-neck. Its face is usually a light red colour. It typically scavenges on carcasses of wildlife and domestic animals. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Hooded Vulture sighting in Hwange National Park, based on 169 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Hwange National Park
Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Brown Snake Eagle
Circaetus cinereus
White-headed Vulture
Trigonoceps occipitalis
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
African Hawk-Eagle
Aquila spilogaster
Lizard Buzzard
Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotos
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Hooded Vulture in Hwange National Park?
About 37% of wildlife watchers report a Hooded Vulture sighting in Hwange National Park, based on 169 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Hooded Vulture in Hwange National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Hooded Vulture in Hwange National Park in our monthly data.