Pairs perch next to each other for a long time, and together form colonies of as many as 1,000 breeding pairs. They build their large nests out of sticks and line them with grass and leaves. Unlock thousands of full-length species accounts and hundreds of bird family overviews when you subscribe to Birds of the World. Vultures can eat rotting flesh that contains anthrax, botulism, and cholera bacteria with no ill effects because acids in the vulture’s stomach destroy these organisms. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. At the Zoo, the vultures eat a bird of prey diet, plus rats and small bones. In vulture courtship, a pair will circle close together near to cliffs. Each species account is written by leading ornithologists and provides detailed information on bird distribution, migration, habitat, diet, sounds, behavior, breeding, current population status, and conservation. Use the information below to find out more about the White-backed Vulture’s characteristics, habitat, diet, behaviour and reproduction. Their plumage is mottled brown or black with a pale brown underside and pale coloured fluff covering their head and neck. White-backed Vulture Characteristics The White-backed Vulture is a medium sized bird which measures around 94 centimetres (37 inches) in length and weighs between 4 and 7 kilograms (9 – 16 pounds). As scavengers, vultures perform a crucial role in the ecosystem by getting rid of dead animals. Main Characteristics Rüppell's Vultures are a large species of vulture with a length of approximately 1 m (3.3 inches), a wingspan of approximately 2.6 m (8.5 ft) and they weigh between 7 and 9 kgs (15 - 20 lbs). Rüppell’s vultures are monogamous and form strong lifelong pair bonds.