Hawks and eagles
Bearded Vulture
Link copied.
Gypaetus barbatus
Link copied.
Voice
Call
Alarm
Call
How to recognize it
-
Body length 95–125 cm
-
In flight: long, narrow wings and a long wedge-shaped tail
-
Adults: head, neck and underparts whitish to bright rusty; black eye patch and beard
-
May drop bones onto rocks from a height to crack them
About the species
Adults have grey-brown upperparts and dark wings, with a pale head and underside often washed rusty orange. A black stripe crosses the eyes, and stiff black bristles hang beneath the bill; in flight, the long, wedge-shaped tail extends behind the wings. The rusty color comes from dust-bathing or rubbing against iron-rich mud.
When it finds a large bone, it carries it aloft and drops it onto rocks, repeating the process if needed. Young vultures can take years to master the technique. A shrill whistle may accompany breeding displays, while a repeated "cheek-acheek" call is heard around the nest.
It lives among steep, open mountains, nesting on crags, ledges and in caves, often above the tree line. It scavenges carcasses, especially those of hoofed mammals, but adults feed mostly on bones and marrow. Across its range in southern Europe, Africa and Asia, it holds a territory year-round; it has also been reintroduced to the Alps.
Where to find
-
At or above the treeline in high mountains, scan the sky for a Bearded Vulture gliding over the slopes.
-
Over rocky slopes, look for a low search flight — just 2–4 m above the ground — as bones or live prey are sought.
-
By rocky outcrops, watch for a large bone dropped onto the rocks from above, then a spiral glide down to check whether the bone has cracked.
