Palmnut Vulture
Palmnut VulturePalmnut VulturePalmnut VulturePalmnut Vulture

Palmnut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · Rare
overall probability at Tsavo West National Park
51 Verified records at Tsavo West National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) or vulturine fish eagle, is a 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. This bird is an Old World vulture (only distantly related to the New World vultures, which are in a separate family, the Cathartidae). It breeds in forest and savannah across sub-Saharan Africa, usually near water, its range coinciding with that of the oil and Raffia palms. 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 such as the Gambia. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Palmnut Vulture sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Tsavo West National Park

Eastern Chanting-Goshawk
LC

Eastern Chanting-Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax poliopterus

30–40% · Possible
Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

30–40% · Possible
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

20–30% · Possible
Augur Buzzard
LC

Augur Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo augur

20–30% · Possible
Martial Eagle
EN

Martial Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polemaetus bellicosus

10–20% · With luck
Wahlberg's Eagle
LC

Wahlberg's Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

10–20% · With luck
Brown Snake Eagle
LC

Brown Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinereus

10–20% · With luck
Black-winged Kite
LC

Black-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus caeruleus

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

African Hawk-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila spilogaster

10–20% · With luck
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

10–20% · With luck
Gabar Goshawk
LC

Gabar Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Micronisus gabar

10–20% · With luck
Steppe Eagle
EN

Steppe Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila nipalensis

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
5–10
Nov
5–10
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 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
70–80%
2 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
40–50%
3 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
40–50%
4 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
30–40%
5 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
30–40%
6 Taï National Park 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
20–30%
7 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
8 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
20–30%
9 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
10 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
11 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
12 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
10–20%
13 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
14 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
15 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
16 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
17 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
5–10%
18 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
19 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
20 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
22 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
23 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
24 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
25 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
26 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
27 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
28 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
29 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
30 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
31 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
32 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
33 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
34 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
35 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
36 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
37 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
38 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
39 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Palmnut Vulture in Tsavo West National Park?

About 5% of wildlife watchers report a Palmnut Vulture sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Palmnut Vulture in Tsavo West National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Palmnut Vulture in Tsavo West National Park in our monthly data.

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