Vulture wings

Most birds molt their flight feathers in a fairly straightforward way, as explained in the last blog. The feathers on each wing molt sequentially, starting with the innermost primary and usually ending with the innermost secondary. This is called sequential wing molt. But there are two other ways to do it. Very large birds (above about 1 kilogram in weight) that need to be able to fly at all times, for example eagles, cormorants, and herons, can retain feathers for more than one year and…

If there is a Rodney Dangerfield of raptors, you could argue the Turkey Vulture is it. With a face only a mother could love, they are not particularly good looking and don’t get much respect in comparison to other birds. However I find them fascinating and overall just pretty darned cool. With a massive six

whoah landing vulture, this is a big one!

A large, buff-brown vulture with pale underwing patches and a diagnostic pale rump patch that is best seen in flight. Prefers open savanna and plains, where it breeds in loose colonies in tall trees. It remains Africa’s commonest vulture but is declining rapidly as it is highly susceptible to poisoning. The similar Cape Griffon is larger and paler, with a pale honey-colored eye (visible at close range), and less contrast between the flight feathers and the reminder of the underwing in…