#accipitriformes

White-bellied Sea Eagles (Icthyophaga leucogaster), family Accipitridae, order Accipitriformes The Kimberley, Western Australia

Himalayan vultures (Gyps himalayensis) pick at a carcass in the Tibetan plateau, China

Wedge-tailed Eagle, Exmouth WA

the white-backed vulture is a large vulture found primarily in sub-saharan africa; they are the most common vulture species in africa; however, even so, they are considered critically endangered by the IUCN. they have suffered a sharp population decline in recent years as a result of poisonings, largely due to eating deceased animals who were exposed to poison themselves. they are also threatened by habitat degradation and poaching. white-backed vultures feed in groups, and are typically one of the first avian scavengers to arrive at a carcass; they will feed on a variety of deceased animals, ranging from ostriches and wildebeest to domestic livestock. white-backed vultures nest in trees, constructing large nests around 1m in diameter. they have a long breeding cycle, with eggs being incubated for around eight weeks, and nestlings remaining with their parents for around four to five months. white-backed vultures are overall buff in color, with pale underwing patches and a pale rump patch. they can be confused for the similar cape griffon that shares their range, though that bird is larger, paler, and has honey-colored eyes (the white-backed vultures’ eyes are dark brown to black). efforts are underway to protect the white-backed vulture, such as established protected areas and increased legal protections in some countries, though their population size remains low.