First observation of Hooded Vulture in Morocco in more than six decades.
Première observation du Vautour charognard au Maroc depuis plus de six décennies.
An immature Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) observed with a flock of Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) at Jbel Moussa. The bird was observed on 22 April 2023 by Rachid El Khamlichi and Mohamed Karim El Haoua.
There is one confirmed previous record of this species in Morocco: 2 birds at Sbayera in Oued Dahab region on 7 June 1955. ‘Birds of Morocco’ (Thévenot et al. 2003) cites another possible record at Boumalne-Dadès in April 1989.
The Hooded Vulture is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and is categorised as Critically Endangered (CR) in the IUCN Red List.
The bird stayed around the Jbel Moussa Vulture Centre and was successfully twitched by Benoit Maire on 5 May.
Benoit also observed two Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli) flying around the area.
….. certainly a tatty plumaged bird Mohammed. Is there any smuggling through Morocco going on. There has been known trade from Guinea to Europe. Our 4 Gambia sat tagged birds got no further than n Senegal. Do you have the publication dealing with HV movements in W E & S Africa. Kind regards Clive
FYI – bws Clive
Thompson, L. J., Barber, D. R., Bechard, M. J., Botha, A. J., Wolter, K., Neser, W., Buechley, E. R., Reading, R., Garbett, R. A., Hancock, P., Maude, G., Virani, M. Z., Thomsett, S., Lee, H., Ogada, D., Barlow, C. R. & Bildstein, K. L. 2020. Variation in monthly sizes of home-ranges of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in western, eastern and southern Africa. Ibis 162(4): 1324–1338. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12836