Neogyps errans (SciiFii)

The American palm-nut vulture (Neogyps errans), also known as the American-Old World vulture, is a species of vulture of the family Aegypiinae that originally lived in North America during the Pleistocene and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout the forests, swamps, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The American palm-nut vulture breeds in forest and grasslands across temperate, subtropical, and tropical North America, usually near water, its range coinciding with that of the oil and various other palm trees. It is quite approachable, like African vultures of many species, and can be seen near habitation, even on large hotel lawns in the tourist areas of states such as, for example, California and Florida. Unusually for birds of prey, the American palm-nut vulture feeds mainly on the fleshy fruit-husks of the oil palm and on the palm-fruits of other palm trees. These fruits make up over 60% of the adult bird's diet and over 90% of the juvenile bird's diet. It has also been recorded to feed on crabs (both freshwater and marine), molluscs, frogs, fish, locusts, small mammals, even reptiles’ eggs and hatchlings, and it has been known to occasionally attack domestic poultry and feed on carrion. Breeding pairs construct large stick nests high up in tall trees and will often exhibit a strong attachment to the nest site. They may stay at the nesting site for an entire year. Where any kinds of palms are present, breeding pairs will build a nest at the base of the palm fronds. At the beginning of the breeding season, pairs soar together in an aerial display of rolling and diving, much more acrobatic than most vultures. During each breeding cycle, a single, white and brown egg is laid, which is incubated by both sexes, over a period of four to six weeks. Normally around 85 to 90 days after hatching, the young brown chicks will fledge. The conservation status of the American palm-nut vulture is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American palm-nut vulture's wide natural range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii