Critically Endangered Birds

Rüppell's Griffon

Gyps rueppelli

A large scaly-looking vulture, one of East Africa's commonest, famed as the highest-flying bird on record.

Scientific name	Gyps rueppelli
Swahili name	Tumbusi wa Rüppell
Conservation status	Critically Endangered
Class	Aves
Order	Accipitriformes
Family	Accipitridae
Size	Body length about 85-103 cm, wingspan about 2.3-2.6 m, weight about 7-9 kg

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How to identify

Dark brown feathers with pale cream edges create a distinctive scaled, spotted pattern; the head and neck are covered in whitish down; large and powerful with a heavy bill

Habitat

Open savanna, grassland and mountainous areas with cliffs for nesting

Diet

A carrion-eating scavenger, often gathering in numbers at the carcasses of large animals

When it is active

Diurnal, soaring to great heights on thermals by day and searching for carcasses for hours

Where it lives

Found across the Sahel and East Africa; commonly seen soaring over the plains of Kenya, Tanzania and neighbouring countries

How to spot it

Look for flocks feeding at large carcasses; scan the high sky for the huge circling shapes, and note the scaled plumage to separate it from the white-backed vulture

Photography tips

Use a telephoto for the huge spread wings in soaring flight; ground feeding scenes show behaviour but keep your distance to avoid disturbance; side light brings out the scaled plumage

Threats

Threatened by poisoning (baits meant for predators), food shortages from the decline of large mammals, persecution and habitat degradation; listed as Critically Endangered

Similar species

White-backed vulture (shows a white lower back in flight and a less scaled appearance); other vultures differ in the bareness of the head/neck and in plumage tone

📖 how to spot the ruppells griffon on safari