Trigonoceps occipitalis
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
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 →
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pairi Daiza | 🇧🇪 Belgium | |
| 2 | ZooParc de Beauval | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Tierpark Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Zlín-Lešná Zoo | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 5 | Réserve africaine de Sigean | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 6 | Toronto Zoo | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Attica Zoological Park | 🇬🇷 Greece | |
| 8 | Valencia Bioparc | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 9 | Dullstroom Bird Of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 10 | Gauntlet Birds of Prey | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 11 | Wildkatzengehege | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 12 | Blue Planet Aquarium | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 13 | Volerie des aigles | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 14 | Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 15 | Schildpaddencentrum | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Vulture sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve on a given day, based on 224 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 150th most-seen of the 398 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January–March and July–November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Vulture in Masai Mara National Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in April–June and December, the lowest months.
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.
13th of 28
Of the 28 parks where we can rate White-headed Vulture sightings, Masai Mara National Reserve ranks 13th 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%).
Same family: Accipitridae
The closest relatives of the White-headed Vulture that you can see in Masai Mara National Reserve (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are White-backed Vulture (about 40%), Bateleur (about 40%) and Tawny Eagle (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the White-headed Vulture is recorded against all the birds logged in Masai Mara National Reserve (224 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.
