Lappet-faced Vulture

The Lappet-faced Vulture is the largest and most powerfully built vulture in Africa, also found in parts of the Arabian Peninsula. It is named for the loose folds of skin, or lappets, on the sides of its bare pink head, though this is a skin feature rather than a feather trait.

Its plumage is predominantly dark brown to blackish, offset by a patch of white feathers on the thighs (often called "white trousers"), a useful field mark in an otherwise mostly dark bird.

Due to its size and strength, this species can dominate other vultures at carcasses, and its large dark feathers reflect its substantial size.

Shape and Size

Wings and flight feathers are very broad and powerful, among the largest of any African vulture; the tail is fairly long and wedge-shaped.

Color and Pattern

• Body and most covert feathers: dark brown to blackish
• Thigh feathers: white, forming a contrasting patch ("white trousers")
• Flight feathers: dark brown to black
• Tail feathers: dark brown
• Shafts: dark

Distinguishing from Similar Species

The white thigh-feather patch against an otherwise dark brown-black body is a useful clue separating this species from the similarly dark Cinereous Vulture, which lacks this white thigh patch, and from the paler Griffon or White-backed Vultures.

Adults are dark brown to blackish overall with white thigh feathers; sexes look alike. Juveniles are similarly dark but may show less distinct white thigh feathering, developing the clean white patch with maturity.

Molt is slow and gradual, consistent with the species' large size and long feather-growth period.

Found across sub-Saharan African savanna, semi-desert, and dry woodland, with a smaller population in the Arabian Peninsula.

Most populations are resident, though individuals can range over large territories while foraging; the species is classified as IUCN Endangered.

A dominant scavenger at carcasses due to its large size and powerful bill, capable of tearing into tough skin and tendons that smaller vultures cannot access; also takes some live prey opportunistically.

Nests in large stick platforms in flat-topped acacia or similar trees, usually as solitary pairs rather than in colonies. Vocalizations include hisses and grunts.

A large dark brown-black feather paired with white thigh feathers, found in African or Arabian savanna and semi-desert, indicates this species.