Knowledge of Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) breeding behavior is important for monitoring purposes and to understand factors that may impact their breeding rates. In this study, we describe the breeding behavior of 65 Hooded Vulture pairs during two breeding seasons (2013/2014 and 2014/2015) in the Sudano-Sahelian area, Garango, in central-eastern Burkina Faso. The main behavioral patterns examined were aerial displays, copulation, nest building, incubation, nestling-rearing, and nest attendance. Hooded Vultures appeared highly selective with regard to nesting tree selection (91% of the 65 nests were in one of three species: Parkia biglobosa, Faidherbia albida, and Tamarindus indica). The breeding period of 65 pairs of Hooded Vultures spanned approximately 8 mo from egg-laying to fledging of the young. The constructed nests included a variety of human-made waste (plastic, paper, paperboard, and rags). Incubation lasted 48.1 ± 2.0 (SD) d for 18 hatched eggs. Juveniles continued receiving food from their parents on the nesting site for at least 38 d after fledging, and stayed with their parents for 5 mo post-fledging. Aerial displays were frequently performed by Hooded Vultures in pairs (two adults) or in threes (two adults with juvenile) and those observed early in the breeding season were considered to be courtship displays. Both sexes contributed to nest building and incubation tasks, and nestlings were relatively well attended by parents at all times of the day during the first weeks. Hooded Vultures produced 0.70 fledged young per nest where eggs were laid, or 0.57 fledged young per territorial pair. Hooded Vultures have a relatively healthy reproductive rate, but remain threatened primarily by direct human persecution. Local protection of Hooded Vultures in this area should be strengthened by public awareness campaigns to safeguard the population's long-term persistence.

Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus, breeding behavior, breeding phenology, nesting, reproductive rate, West Africa