Birds of Prey

[Spalea]

Daniel Rosengren: " Why the red face?

The face and neck skin of this Hooded Vulture can change from bright pinkish to white in a matter of seconds. The skin turns reddish pink when aggressive or excited and turns white when scared or submissive, not unlike (but more extreme) the facial skin in humans. The pinkish colour is caused by blood vessels opening up.
Hooded vultures are relatively small and have a very weak beak. Therefore they depend on larger vultures or other scavengers to open the skin of a carcass before it can eat.
Sadly, like many other vultures, the hooded vulture is critically endangered.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. "

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