白兀鹫的羽毛是白色的,飞羽黑色。它们的身体有时有些泥色是与其习性有关。喙幼长,上颔端有钩。鼻孔很长。颈部羽毛很长,双翼很尖,当中以第三主羽最长。尾巴呈楔状。爪子直而且长,第三及第四趾有小蹼。指名亚种的喙是黑色的,而印度亚种N. p. ginginianus的则较为淡色或黄色,但这种变化仍需更多证据支持。[2]面部皮肤是黄色的。[3]雏鸟是黑色或深褐色的,有黑白色的斑。[3]成年的白兀鹫全长85厘米,翼展1.7米。它们重约2公斤,但N. p. majorensis则平均重2.4公斤。[4]
白兀鹫是群居的[22],鸟巢会不断再用。它们很多时都是单独或成对的行动。它们是一夫一妻制的,夫妻的关系可以维持多于一个繁殖季节。成年雄鹫在雌鹫生蛋前后很多时都会留在其身边。[23]它们会在峭壁、建筑物及树上筑巢。[2]N. p. ginginianus及N. p. majorensis也会在地上筑巢。[24][25][26]印度群落的繁殖季节是于2月至4月。双亲都会孵蛋,孵化期为42天。[3]3-5天后就会孵化第二只雏鹫,但时间越长,其生存率就越低。[27]在鸟巢紧迫的地方,雏鹫有时会走到其他鸟巢寻找食物。[28]西班牙群落的幼鹫会在90-110天大时换羽及离开鸟巢。[29]幼鹫离开鸟巢后会到远达500公里以外的地方。[30][31]到了4-5岁大时,它们就会拥有成鸟的羽毛。饲养的白兀鹫寿命可达37岁。[32]
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