The Lappet-faced Vulture is a large, striking bird of prey, easily recognized by its red, bald head with fleshy folds of skin called lappets. It has dark brown to black plumage and contrasting white thighs. With its massive beak, the Lappet-faced Vulture can tear through the toughest hides, allowing it to access carcasses that other scavengers cannot.
It is found across arid regions of Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, inhabiting deserts, savannas, and dry scrublands. These vultures often dominate other scavengers at carcasses, using their size and strength to eat first. While primarily scavengers, they can also hunt small animals such as hares, flamingos, and reptiles.
Like many other vulture species, the Lappet-faced Vulture faces threats in the wild and has a conservation status of Endangered. Secondary poisoning and persecution by humans are two of the obstacles the species faces.
International Vulture Awareness Day is coming up this Saturday, September 6, 2025. We've celebrated vultures here on the Birdorable blog before, and we're continuing the tradition with a Vulture Week series leading up to the big day. We're going to share new posts and reiterate... Read more »
International Vulture Awareness Day is coming up on Saturday, September 6, 2025, and it's the perfect time to celebrate these critical, though often misunderstood, birds. Observed on the first Saturday of September each year, IVAD shines a spotlight on vultures'; vital ecological roles; from cleaning... Read more »
