Hooded Vulture
Hooded VultureHooded VultureHooded VultureHooded Vulture

Hooded Vulture

Necrosyrtes monachus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Masai Mara National Reserve
658 Verified records at Masai Mara National Reserve
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is an Old World vulture in the order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Necrosyrtes, which is sister to the larger Gyps genus, both of which are a part of the Aegypiinae subfamily of Old World vultures. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it has a widespread distribution with populations in southern, East and West Africa. It is a scruffy-looking, small vulture with dark brown plumage, a long thin bill, bare crown, face and fore-neck, and a downy nape and hind-neck. Its face is usually a light red colour. It typically scavenges on carcasses of wildlife and domestic animals. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Hooded Vulture sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 658 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

40–50% · Likely
Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

40–50% · Likely
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

30–40% · Possible
Lappet-faced Vulture
EN

Lappet-faced Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Torgos tracheliotos

30–40% · Possible
Black-winged Kite
LC

Black-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus caeruleus

20–30% · Possible
Black-breasted Snake Eagle
LC

Black-breasted Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus pectoralis

20–30% · Possible
Ruppell's griffon

Ruppell's griffon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps rueppellii

10–20% · With luck
African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

10–20% · With luck
Martial Eagle
EN

Martial Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polemaetus bellicosus

10–20% · With luck
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
LC

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax metabates

10–20% · With luck
Brown Snake Eagle
LC

Brown Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinereus

10–20% · With luck
Augur Buzzard
LC

Augur Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo augur

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
30–40%
2 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
20–30%
3 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
4 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
20–30%
5 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
20–30%
6 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
7 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
8 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
20–30%
9 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
20–30%
10 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
11 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
10–20%
12 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
13 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
14 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
15 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
10–20%
16 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
17 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
18 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
19 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
20 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
5–10%
21 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
22 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
5–10%
23 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
24 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
25 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
26 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
27 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
28 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
29 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
30 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
31 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
32 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
33 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
34 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
35 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
36 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
37 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
38 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
39 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
40 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
41 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
42 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Hooded Vulture in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 23% of wildlife watchers report a Hooded Vulture sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 658 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Hooded Vulture in Masai Mara National Reserve?

September has the highest sighting rate for Hooded Vulture in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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