Which vulture is Africa’s largest flying bird by wingspan?

The lappet-faced vulture is Africa’s largest flying bird by wingspan.

Its wings can span about 2.8 metres, allowing it to soar over African savannas while searching for carcasses. The species is also called the lappet-faced or Nubian vulture, referring to the loose folds of skin, or lappets, around its bare head and neck.

Like other vultures, it is primarily a scavenger and helps remove animal remains from the environment. Its powerful bill can tear through tough hide and muscle, giving it access to parts of carcasses that smaller scavengers may struggle to reach.

The lappet-faced vulture is found across parts of sub-Saharan Africa and also occurs in the Arabian Peninsula. It is classified as Endangered, with threats including poisoning, habitat loss, reduced food availability, and collisions with power infrastructure. It is sometimes confused with the slightly smaller Cape vulture, another large African scavenger.