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Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture vs Griffon Vulture and vs African White-backed Vulture

griffon-ruppells-african-white-backed-vulture-identification-africanus-rueppelli-fulvus

Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture vs Griffon Vulture and vs African White-backed Vulture

AWBV:

  • Short wings, closed hands, very slim body. Roughly 50% smaller than EGV and 30% than RGV.
  • Has 12 tail-feathers. Dark greyish tarsus,  blacker than other vultures.
  • Short black bill, jet black facial mark.
  • Black neck skin.
  • Body feathers, especially undertail coverts, intermediate pale streaking lacking any spot at feather-tip.
  • Dull greyish greater coverts, lacking any pale markings.
  • Upperwing plain, uniform sandy/brown with uniform brownish greater coverts.

 

RGV:

  • Relatively short wings, closed hand, slim body. Roughly 30% in weight of EGV, and it generally looks slimmer and less bulky bellied.
  • Has 14 tail-feathers.
  • Very long billed, flat forehead, bill becomes pale during second  or third plumage.
  • Neck skin deep red; blue circular patches. Dark feathers on the neck.
  • Broad pale streaking with pale spots at feathers-tip  (anchor in juveniles) in body feathers, especially in undertail coverts.
  • Greater coverts black with pale tips, particularly evident in primary coverts; lacking lateral fringe.
  • Upperwing scaled with several rows of black pale-tipped feathers (greater and median coverts).

 

EGV:

  • Long-winged, square wings, massive body. Looking notoriously heavy and bulky both in flight and perched.
  • Has 14 tail-feathers.
  • Squared head, bill dark until third or fourth plumage.
  • Neck skin blue-greyish; blue circular patches.
  • Body feathers, especially undertail coverts, usually uniform although sometimes with a pale streaking.
  • Greater and primary coverts from white to an almost black feather, but always entirely pale fringe.
  • Upperwing plain, uniform griffon/sandy except dark greater coverts with a visible pale fringe.

 

Abstract from: Rodríguez, G. & Elorriaga, J. 2016. Identification of Rüpell’s Vulture and White-backed Vulture and vagrancy in the WP. Dutch Birding 38.

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Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture vs Griffon Vulture

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Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture vs Griffon Vulture

Most Rüppell’s in Europe are observed in the extreme southern Iberia peninsula, mostly 2cy birds between february and november, but especially during their movements between Senegambia and Spain.

In addition to being a darker and smaller vulture, Rüppell’s characteristics are the pattern of the patagium, the clear margins of the greater and upper tail coverts, as well as the arrow pattern of the body feathers. There are other aspects such as the greater extent of moult, the more triangular head, the reddish neck, etc.