Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotos
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae (Accipítrids)
- GenusTorgos
- SpeciesTorgos tracheliotos (Lappet-faced Vulture)
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 extant 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. The lappet-faced vulture was formerly considered monotypical, but now is separated into two subspecies. The nominate race lives throughout Africa. The subspecies T. t. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Lappet-faced Vulture sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 28 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Pale Chanting Goshawk
Melierax canorus
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
Gabar Goshawk
Micronisus gabar
Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
Black-breasted Snake Eagle
Circaetus pectoralis
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Brown Snake Eagle
Circaetus cinereus
Pale Harrier
Circus macrourus
Ovampo Sparrowhawk
Accipiter ovampensis
📅 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 Lappet-faced Vulture in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?
About 11% of wildlife watchers report a Lappet-faced Vulture sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 28 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lappet-faced Vulture in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Lappet-faced Vulture in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in our monthly data.