Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis, palm-nut vulture, palmiste africain, buitre palmero, birds of prey of kenya, widllife of kenya, vultures of kenya
Names, conservation status and distribution
Gypohierax angolensis, palm-nut vulture, palmiste africain, buitre palmero, birds of prey of kenya, widllife of kenya, vultures of kenya
Juvenile, Nairobi National Park
Gypohierax angolensis, palm-nut vulture, palmiste africain, buitre palmero, birds of prey of kenya, widllife of kenya, vultures of kenya
Juvenile, Nairobi National Park

The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) or vulturine fish eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae (which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers, vultures, and eagles). It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax.

It breeds in forest and savannah across sub-Saharan Africa, usually near water, its range coinciding with that of the oil and Raffia palms. It is quite approachable, like many African vultures, and can be seen near habitation. Palm-nut vultures are found throughout most of the coastal areas of the African continent from The Gambia to Kenya and as far South as South Africa. The total African population is estimated to be 80 000 pairs. As the name suggests, the distribution of the palm-nut vulture closely tracks that of oil or raffia palms. Consequently, it is most common in coastal forests and mangrove swamps below 1,500 m, but also occurs in wet savannas.

Unusually for birds of prey, the palm-nut vulture feeds mainly on the fleshy fruit-husks of the oil palm and on the palm-fruits of Raffia palm. These fruits make up over 60% of the adult bird's diet and over 90% of the juvenile bird's diet. It has also been recorded to feed on crabs (both freshwater and marine), molluscs, frogs, fish, locusts, small mammals, even reptiles’ eggs and hatchlings, and it has been known to occasionally attack domestic poultry and feed on carrion.

Source : Wikipedia