Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae)

Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) - HBW 2, p. 126

French: Vautour charognard German: Kappengeier Spanish: Alimoche Sombrío

Taxonomy: Cathartes monachus Temminck, 1823, Senegal.
Monotypic genus sometimes combined with Neophron, but differs markedly in morphology and e.g. nesting behaviour. Two subspecies sometimes recognized, with nominate race in W Africa, and rest of range covered by race pileatus; but variation only in size, and clinal from small in W to large in S. Monotypic.

Distribution: Mauritania E to Ethiopia and S to Namibia and South Africa, except areas of uninterrupted forest or desert.