The Cape vulture is a declining endemic in southern Africa and needs to be carefully monitored. In view of the spatio-temporal separation of the various age classes it is important to record the age af a bird with each sighting. This has not happened in the past as no clear, concise ageing guide was available. Detailed descriptionptions and photographs are presented of birds of each age class. This is done for seven nestling categories and five age classes of free-flying birds. Keywords: Nestling, Tarsometatarsi, Black primaries, Dorsal feather tracts, Tibial feathers, Patagium, Fledgling, Juvenile, Young immature, Free-fIying age classes.