Palm-Nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Palm-nut vultures are African raptors with a white body, black wing panels, and bare orange-red facial skin around a dark eye. Gypohierax angolensis is unusual among vultures because oil palm fruit and raffia palm fruit form a large part of its diet, although it also takes fish, crabs, carrion, small vertebrates, and food found around wetlands. It is often seen near coastal forests, rivers, swamps, and palm-rich savannas.

Palm-nut vulture care is usually a zoo, rehabilitation, or conservation task rather than private ownership. Aviaries need room for strong perching, flight, and quiet nesting behavior, while diets may include both animal items and suitable plant material to reflect the bird's natural feeding habits. Field records help track breeding sites near wetlands and palm stands, especially where development or agriculture alters habitat. Its care is different from many vulture routines because fruit, especially palm fruit, can matter alongside animal food.