Palm-nut Vulture

Palm-nut Vulture

Flying Animal | Palm-nut Vulture | Gypohierax angolensis | The Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) or Vulturine Fish Eagle, is a very 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. Unusual for Birds of Prey, it feeds mainly on the fruit of the oil-palm though it also feeds on crabs, molluscs, locusts, fish and has been known to occasionally attack domestic poultry. This bird is an Old World vulture, and is only distantly related to the New World vultures, which are in a separate family, Cathartidae. It breeds in forest and savannah across sub-Saharan Africa, usually near water, its range coinciding with that of the Oil Palm. It is quite approachable, like many African vultures, and can be seen near habitation, even on large hotel lawns in the tourist areas of countries like The Gambia.

Reproduction

A pair are attached to their nest site, and may be found closely associated with it all the year round. At the onset of the breeding season they perform a rolling and diving flight together, and roost nightly in their nest tree. Copulation takes place at or near the nest site just before egg-laying.

Palm-nut Vulture

Nests are built in large trees, at a height of anything between 30 and 200 feet. They are made of sticks, adorned with oil palm racemes. They are large structures, about three feet across and one-and-a-half feet deep, often in a large main fork of whatever tree is selected. Building and repair, which is carried out by both sexes occupies four to six weeks. Only one egg is laid, white, heavily marked with dark brown and chocolate, with lilac and pale brown undermarkings. The duration of the incubation period is between six and seven weeks (about 44 days). The fledging period is long, frequently more than 90 days, giving a total breeding cycle time of about five months.

Feeding habits

Palm-nut Vulture

One of the very few raptors to eat vegetable matter regularly, the Palm Nut Vulture, true to its name, eats the husk of oil palm nuts and raphia fruit husks. True to its other name of Vulturine Fish Eagle, it also eats crabs, molluscs, etc, picked up on the sea shore; also stranded and occasionally live fish which are snatched from the water surface. Giant snails and locusts also feature occasionally. Oil palm nuts are such a favoured food, that it will often reject meat in favour of oil palm husk.