The White-rumped Vulture is an Old World species that lives in parts of the Indian Peninsula and across Southeast Asia. The species is also known as the Oriental White-backed Vulture.
White-rumped Vultures have black bodies with white backs and white neck ruff feathers. The naked head is dark grey with pink tinges and a silvery pointed beak.
The White-rumped Vulture is critically endangered. The species was considered the most abundant large bird of prey in the world at least into the 1980s. Since then it has suffered a 99% loss in population, due in large part to secondary poisoning via the livestock drug diclofenac. The use of safe alternatives to this drug may help save this species from the brink of extinction.
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 »
