Rüppell's Griffon Vulture

Gyps rueppellii

Other Names

  Rüppell's Vulture, Rüppell's Griffon   Vautour de Rüppell, Vautour de pays plat d'Afrique   Sperbegeier   Buitre Moteado   Rüppellgam   Rüppells Gier   Grifone di Rüppel

World: Sub-saharan Africa between 15° and 20° north from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Uganda, Kenya and N. Tanzania.

Kenya: Absent from the west of the country, the coast and part of central Kenya; common elsewhere.

Almost as common as, and very similar to the White-backed Vulture but can be distinguished by the yellowish bill. It' very common in dry open country, especially near high cliffs on which it nests and roosts. The commonest vulture in northern Kenya where thousands have been noted at some roosting sites.