White-headed Vulture

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCNTVUENCRCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Lake Mburo National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%

67 Verified sightings at Lake Mburo National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,486 In all 28 parks
September Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the White-headed Vulture

The white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. Populations have been declining steeply in recent years due to habitat degradation and poisoning of vultures at carcasses. An extinct relative was also present in the Indonesian island of Flores during the Late Pleistocene, indicating that the genus was more widespread in the past.

The white-headed vulture is widely spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring from Senegal and Gambia east to Somalia and south to South Africa and Eswatini. It is locally uncommon to common. A total population of 10,500–18,750 individuals has been estimated, but newer estimates following recent declines suggest a population of just 5,500 individuals. It is estimated that 400 protected areas contain 1893 white-headed vulture nests, with 721 nests occurring in East Africa, 548 in Central Africa, 468 in Southern Africa and 156 in West Africa.

The species prefers mixed, dry woodland at low altitudes. It occurs at elevations of up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in Ethiopia, perhaps 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in Kenya, and can be found in thorny Acacia-dominated landscape in Botswana. It generally... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
2 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
3 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
4 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~20%
5 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
6 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
7 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
8 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
9 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
10 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
11 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
12 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
13 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
14 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
15 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
16 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
17 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
18 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
19 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
20 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
22 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
23 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
24 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
25 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
26 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
27 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
28 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Pairi Daiza 🇧🇪 Belgium In captivity
2 ZooParc de Beauval 🇫🇷 France In captivity
3 Tierpark Berlin 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
4 Zlín-Lešná Zoo 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
5 Réserve africaine de Sigean 🇫🇷 France In captivity
6 Toronto Zoo 🇨🇦 Canada In captivity
7 Attica Zoological Park 🇬🇷 Greece In captivity
8 Valencia Bioparc 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
9 Dullstroom Bird Of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
10 Gauntlet Birds of Prey 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
11 Wildkatzengehege 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
12 Blue Planet Aquarium 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
13 Volerie des aigles 🇫🇷 France In captivity
14 Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
15 Schildpaddencentrum 🇳🇱 Netherlands In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a White-headed Vulture in Lake Mburo National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Vulture sighting in Lake Mburo National Park on a given day, based on 67 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 197th most-seen of the 362 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a White-headed Vulture in Lake Mburo National Park?

June, August–September and November–December

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Vulture in Lake Mburo National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–May, July and October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a White-headed Vulture?

Between 7 and 10 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most White-headed Vulture sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Lake Mburo National Park the best place to see a White-headed Vulture?

18th of 28

Of the 28 parks where we can rate White-headed Vulture sightings, Lake Mburo National Park ranks 18th at about 10%. The best odds are in Kidepo Valley National Park (Uganda, about 40%), Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe, about 30%) and Kafue National Park (Zambia, about 20%).

Which relatives of the White-headed Vulture live in Lake Mburo National Park?

Same family: Accipitridae

The closest relatives of the White-headed Vulture that you can see in Lake Mburo National Park (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are African Fish-Eagle (about 40%), Bateleur (about 40%) and White-backed Vulture (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the White-headed Vulture sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the White-headed Vulture is recorded against all the birds logged in Lake Mburo National Park (67 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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