Gyps bengalensis
Indian white-backed vulture
(Also: white-rumped vulture)

Gyps bengalensis is very common on the Indian subcontinent. It regularly occurs in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. It formerly occurred in southern China and Malaysia but is now extinct in that region. It has also been found in southern and central Afghanistan, mostly in the southern area but has also been sighted in the central part of Afghanistan. In Pakistan, G. bengalensis is found mostly in the Indus valley and along the Himalayas to Assam valley and the southern parts of the Assam hills. ("BirdLife: International", 2004; Amadon and Brown, 1968; Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)

White-rumped vultures are often found in cities, towns and villages, near human habitation. They occur in temperate areas, mostly in plains and occasionally in hilly regions. Gyps bengalensis is generally found in open areas and fields enclosing scattered trees. White-rumped vultures feed mostly on the ground, but roost and nest in trees and cliffs, and spend much of their time soaring on wind currents searching for carrion. Nests are typically 2 to 18 meters above the ground. ("Arkive: Images of Life on Earth.", 2004; "BirdLife: International", 2004; Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)

White-rumped vultures are medium-sized, dark vultures. Adults are 75 to 85 cm tall, their wing span is 180 to 210 cm, and their weight ranges from 3.5 to 7.5 kg. The sexes are approximately equal in size. Adults are darker than juveniles, with blackish plumage, a white neck-ruff, and a white patch of feathers on the lower back and upper tail, from which their common name is derived. There is a pale grey patch on the upper surface of the wings, visible when the wings are folded. The undersides of the wings are a dark slate to brownish color. During flight, the white underwing coverts are highly visible. Usually the eyes are a yellowish brown color and the legs are blackish. The bill is short, deep, and stout.

Immature G. bengalensis are dark brown and the lower back and rump area are brown rather than white. The underwing coverts are dark brown. Eyes are dark brown and the legs are blackish but lighter than the adult. Generally, adults tend towards black coloration, while younger individuals are browner. All G. bengalensis can be distinguished by the white bar located on the underside of the wing. ("BirdLife: International", 2004; "Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book", 2001; Amadon and Brown, 1968; Grubh, 1974; Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)

There is little available information on the lifespan of Gyps bengalensis.

White-rumped vultures are social animals, living in flocks year-round, often with other vulture species. They breed in loose colonies. Typically, G. bengalensis is found in lines of trees close to rivers, in a jungle, in big trees within towns of villages, or near slaughter houses (in close proximity to food). Up to 15 large nests may be observed in a single roost tree. At night, white-rumped vultures roost in trees. Both night roosts and breeding roosts are often used for long periods of time. They rest for about two hours before dark. Typical flight speeds are between 50 and 55 miles per hour but can reach speeds up to 90 miles per hour. They can soar up to 9,000 feet but do not nest higher than 3,500 feet. White-rumped vultures have adapted well to living near humans. Occasionally, they can come into conflict with the human population in close proximity to them. ("Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2", 1990; Amadon and Brown, 1968)

White-rumped vultures communicate with an assortment of grunts, hisses, and squeals. During mating, the female usually makes a loud, unpleasant call. Birds that are being incubated may croak or hiss. It is also possible that postures and movements are used to communicate among individuals. These vultures have a keen sense of vision, for locating carcasses, and can hear well. (Amadon and Brown, 1968)

White-rumped vultures feed almost exclusively on the remains of dead animals, regardless of whether it is fresh or putrid. Many populations of G. bengalensis forage through dumpsters for food. Those that live by slaughter houses obtain food from dumpsters as well. White-rumped vultures also feed on fish from lakes that have dried out. In India these vultures eat mainly cattle and human remains. When these vultures feed, they tear open the flesh with their beaks and start feeding from the supple flesh near the tail. They fight over the food between themselves, kicking and flapping their wings to drive other vultures away. White-rumped vultures will gorge themselves with carrion if given the chance, leaving them unable to fly because of the amount of food they have eaten.

This species doesn’t usually capture prey as a means for survival. Generally, it feeds on carcasses. However, occasionally vultures will kill animals for food. One instance of a vulture attacking a calf has been noted. A group of vultures rushing a flock of village ducks has also been noted. ("Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2", 1990; Amadon and Brown, 1968; Dharmakumarsinhji, 1955; Prakash, 1989)

In Bangladesh, white-rumped vultures are known to build nests at lower heights than normal. Because of this, eggs may be taken by lizards, pythons, and other carnivores. Also, humans may be a threat to Gyps bengalensis because of the usage of vultures as a source of medicines. A very small number of this species has been captured for pets and for display in circuses. Normally they are not hunted for food. ("Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book", 2001)

Gyps bengalensis is important as a scavenger in the ecosystems in which they live.

The danger of collision between birds and airplanes is a grave fear of pilots everywhere but especially in India, where vultures contribute to 25% of bird-plane strikes. Of this percentage, Gyps bengalensis causes the most problems because of its commonness, weight, its habit of flocking, and its ability to fly to high altitudes. (Satheesan, 1989)

White-rumped vultures are important in helping prevent the spread of diseases by ridding areas of carcasses. Declines in vulture numbers in India and Pakistan are resulting in an increase of carcasses remaining to feral dog populations, leading to an increase in the number of feral dogs, which transmit rabies to human populations. ("Arkive: Images of Life on Earth.", 2004; "Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book", 2001)

There are many threats to Gyps bengalensis. Disease, pesticides, environmental contamination, poisoning, reduced food availability, calcium deficiency, reduced nesting habitat, nest predators, hunting, and aircraft strikes are the most common. DDT and HCH pesticides have been banned in India but are still extensively used. High levels of these two pesticides have been found in tissue samples in carcasses. Breeding declines of this species seem to be congruent with pesticide usage, however more recent studies have established a strong link between catastrophic Asian vulture declines (including this species, which is now listed as Critically Endangered) and consumption of carcasses of animals treated with the veterinary drug diclofenac. Other vulture poisoning incidents may result from the intentional poisoning of carcasses, usually to rid a town of predatory mammals. Populations of white-rumped vultures have declined by as much as 95% in Pakistan and India. Populations in southeastern Asia disappeared in the early 20th century, disappearing altogether from Malaysia and southern China. ("BirdLife: International", 2004; "Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book", 2001; Grubh, 1973; Prakash, 1999; Wells, 1999)

Gyps bengalensis is believed by some authors to be very closely related to or even conspecific with Gyps africanus found in Africa. Pseudogyps bengalensis is another scientific name by which Gyps bengalensis was previously known. Another common name is white-backed vulture. ("BirdLife: International", 2004; "Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2", 1990; Wells, 1999)