The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), also known as the Nubian Vulture, is a force of nature. With its impressive wingspan and formidable beak, it dominates the carcass scene in the savannas and deserts of Africa. Recognizable by its bare, wrinkled head, whose color can range from pale pink to bright red, this raptor plays a vital ecological role. Unfortunately, this essential cleaner faces serious threats that endanger its survival.
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on August 8, 2025.
My personal tip: To identify the Lappet-faced Vulture without a doubt, don't just rely on its large size. Look for the unique combination of its massive, powerful beak, its bare, wrinkled head (with folds of skin, the "lappets"), and the striking contrast between its dark plumage and its thighs covered in white down. It's these white 'trousers' that make it easily distinguishable from other large, dark vultures, even from a distance.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is one of the largest vultures, with a wingspan of up to 2.90 meters (9.5 feet). Its appearance is both imposing and unique.
Juveniles are generally browner and less contrasted than adults, with a paler head and a darker beak.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is generally a silent bird, especially in flight. However, when gathered at a carcass or near the nest, it can emit a variety of guttural sounds, including hisses, grunts, and harsh croaks to assert its dominance.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is a specialized scavenger. It spends much of its day soaring at high altitudes, using its keen eyesight to spot carcasses or the activity of other scavengers. Once a carcass is located, its arrival often causes other vulture species to scatter.
Thanks to its size and powerful beak, it is often the first to open up thick-skinned carcasses, such as those of buffalo or elephants, thus acting as a "can opener" for other scavengers. It feeds mainly on meat, skin, and tendons.
It is a monogamous bird that forms lifelong pairs. They build huge nests of sticks, often at the top of isolated acacia trees, which they reuse for several years. The female typically lays a single egg.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is widespread but uncommon throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It prefers open, arid environments, such as savannas, thorny steppes, and desert areas. It avoids dense forests and high-altitude regions. It is also found in the Arabian Peninsula, although its population there is extremely small.
Although sedentary, it can roam vast territories in search of food, which makes conservation efforts complex.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is classified as "Endangered" (EN) on the IUCN Red List. Its population has suffered an alarming decline across its entire range. The most critical threat is poisoning. Ranchers sometimes use poisons on carcasses to eliminate predators like lions or hyenas, and vultures become the collateral victims of these practices. The decreasing number of large wild mammals, habitat loss, disturbance of nesting sites, and collisions with power lines are also major factors in its decline. Conservation efforts are underway to combat poisoning and protect key habitats, but the situation remains critical for this giant of the sky.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is classified as 'Endangered' by the IUCN. The most severe threat is poisoning, often unintentional, when carcasses are treated with pesticides to kill predators. Habitat loss, declining food sources, and collisions with power infrastructure also contribute to its decline.
The Lappet-faced Vulture plays a vital role as a natural cleaner. With its powerful beak, it can tear through the tough hides of large carcasses, making them accessible to other scavengers. By quickly cleaning up carcasses, it helps prevent the spread of diseases.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is found in arid savannas, deserts, and open bush country in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Large national parks and reserves in East and Southern Africa are good places to spot it.
The bare head and neck of the Lappet-faced Vulture are a hygienic adaptation. When feeding on carcasses, a feathered head would quickly become soiled with blood and remains, which could cause infections. The bare skin is easier to clean and keep healthy under the African sun.
No, the Lappet-faced Vulture is a strict scavenger. It does not hunt live prey. Its beak and talons are adapted for tearing dead meat, not for killing. It may exceptionally prey on very small, injured, or sick animals, but this is rare.