What to Know About the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda?

The African White-backed Vulture in Uganda is one of the African birds in Uganda seen during Uganda birding watching Tours.

The white-backed vulture is an Old-World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.

Sometimes it is called African white-backed vulture to distinguish it from the Oriental white-backed vulture.

Is the most common large vulture in Africa and is an accomplished scavenger that eats the carcasses of large animals.

This is a medium-sized vulture; its body mass is 4.2 to 7.2 kilograms; it is 78 to 98 cm long and has a 1.96 to 2.25 m wingspan. It has a longevity of up to 19 years.

How Does the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda Look Like?

African White-backed Vulture is an Old Word Vulture. It is very typical with its bald head, broad wings and short tail. It has a white neck ruff.

This vulture has whitish back and rump, making contrast with its dark plumage. It has sparse yellowish down on its black bare skin on head and neck.

It has some variable colors, brown on shoulders and joints of wings, primary flight feathers black, and secondaries mostly dark brown. Tail is black.

Underparts are fulvous. Under wings are white, crop has brown patch. Eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are dark brown.

Bill is strong and black at all ages. Juvenile is very dark and brown, more than adults. But it has not pale white areas. It needs some years to reach adult plumage, from 4 to 6 years.

How Does the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda Sing and Make Calls?

African White-backed Vulture utters a croaking when at nest or near carcasses. But it may make a squealing noise when disputes occur for food.

How Does the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda Feed?

African White-backed Vulture feeds mainly on carcasses and bone fragments. It is a strict meat-eater. It has gregarious feeding habits.

It feeds mainly on carrion. We can find it in big numbers when food resources are abundant. These birds are adapted to feed on soft tissues, and cannot rip open large carcasses with thick skin.

African White-backed Vulture is a very gregarious bird, feeding in large flocks. Often, up to 100 of these birds can gather near a carcass.

It is very tame, venturing into towns, searching for food. African White-backed Vulture searches its food by soaring high above the ground. It has keen eyesight.

When one bird finds a freshly killed animal, it wheels in the sky to signal other vultures to come and eat. Food poisoning does not affect a vulture because its stomach acids are very acidic, with a pH of nearly zero. These acids prevent the spread of disease.

How Does the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda Nest?

African White-backed Vulture makes its nest in trees, and breeds in loose colonies. Nest is small in size, for these large vultures.

It is located at the top of a tall tree in their territory and often along streams. It is a platform made with sticks, and the interior is lined with grass and green leaves.  Vultures tend not to nest in areas with high elephant populations.

How Does the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda Breed?

White-backed vultures are monogamous breeders and pairs stay together for life. They breed in the dry season, nesting with 2 to 13 birds in a loose colony.

How Does the African White-backed Vulture in Uganda Reproduce?

Female lays one single egg. Incubation lasts about 56 days, by both parents. Chicks are fed by both adults, and may fledge at about 4 months.