Portrait of a Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) - stock photo

Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) in profile close-up. The hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is an Old World vulture. It is the only member of the genus Necrosyrtes and is native to sub-Saharan Africa. It typically scavenges on carcasses. Although this is a common species, numbers of these birds are decreasing rapidly. Threats include poisoning, hunting and loss of habitat, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered". It is a small species compared to most vultures.