Cape Griffon or Cape Vulture
Old World (Europe, Asia and Africa) Vulture Information & Species
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The Cape Griffon or Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.
Description
The Cape Griffon has a creamy-buff body plumage that contrast with its dark flight and tail feathers. It has a black bill.
Adults have honey-colored eyes and a featherless bluish throat. Juveniles have brown eyes and a pink neck.
In flight, their pale, almost silvery, under wing feathers are visible.
The average length is about 1 m (3.3 ft) with a wingspan of about 2.4 m (7.9 ft) and a body weight of 9.4 kg (21 lb).
They are on average the largest raptor in Africa, although they are subservient to the powerful Lappet-faced Vulture.
Distribution / Range
It is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and Mozambique. It could formerly be found in in Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia, but is now extinct in Swaziland, and only small, non-breeding populations persist in Zimbabwe and Namibia .
The species is listed by the IUCN as "Vulnerable", the major problems it faces being poisoning, disturbance at breeding colonies and electrocution. The current population is estimated at 8,000.
Breeding / Nesting
They nest on cliffs and usually lay one egg per year.
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