DAY 287: NATURE'S UNDERTAKERS

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ANDY LOWE
WHITE BACKED VULTURE

 

The white-backed vulture has black eyes and a strong, slightly hooked black bill, contrasting with its pale crown and hind neck. As they age, the plumage of white-backed vultures becomes paler and plainer, especially that of the  female; conversely, juveniles are darker, with lighter brown streaks on their feathers.
 
Vultures have historically been grouped with other raptors on the basis of their overall appearance. Often seen soaring high in the sky, they are often mistaken for hawks or eagles.

However, it has recently been determined that the seven species of New World vultures are more closely related to storks than to the hawks and eagles with which they were originally grouped. Unlike all other raptors, vultures are not birds of prey. They feed solely on carrion, preferring animals that have been dead for two to four days. African White-Backed Vultures have no natural predators, except humans.