Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusTorgos
SpeciesTorgos tracheliotos (Lappet-faced Vulture)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kibale National Park

2 Verified sightings at Kibale National Park From 2019 to 2026

9,834 Verified sightings across all 43 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Lappet-faced Vulture

The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only extant member of the genus Torgos. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that family of birds.

The lappet-faced vulture was formerly considered monotypical, but now is separated into two subspecies. The nominate race lives throughout Africa. The subspecies T. t. negevensis, differing considerably in appearance from African vultures (as described below) is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.

The scientific name is Greek, meaning "Cartilage-eared Vulture". This species is patchily distributed through much of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, though it is absent from much of the central and western parts of the continent and declining elsewhere in its range. The lappet-faced vulture breeds in Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Kibale National Park

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Lophaetus occipitalis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Polyboroides typus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Milvus migrans

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Gypohierax angolensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Circaetus cinerascens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo buteo

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Hieraaetus ayresii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pernis apivorus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Haliaeetus vocifer

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
2	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
3	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
4	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
5	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
6	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
7	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~20%
8	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~20%
9	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
10	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
11	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
12	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
13	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
14	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
15	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
16	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
17	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
18	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
19	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
20	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
21	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
22	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
23	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
24	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
25	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
26	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
27	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~10%
28	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
29	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	<5%
30	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	<5%
31	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
32	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
33	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
34	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
35	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
36	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
37	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
38	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
39	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
40	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
41	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
42	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
43	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data

← Back to Kibale National Park

Lappet-faced Vulture

About the Lappet-faced Vulture

Recent sightings of Lappet-faced Vulture in Kibale National Park

Closest Relatives at Kibale National Park

Lizard Buzzard

Long-crested Eagle

African Harrier-Hawk

Black Kite

Palmnut Vulture

Wahlberg's Eagle

Crowned Eagle

Banded Snake-Eagle

Common Buzzard

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

European Honey-buzzard

African Fish-Eagle

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found