Hawks and eagles
Bearded Vulture
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Gypaetus barbatus
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Voice
Call
Alarm
Call
How to recognize it
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95–125 cm, very long narrow wings and a wedge-shaped tail
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Pale head and neck, black band through the eye
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Black beard under the bill, grey-brown upperparts
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Soft whistles and a catlike call
About the species
The bearded vulture wears a mix of dark grey, rusty tones, and pale whitish feathers, with darker wings and tail. Its creamy forehead and the black bristles under the bill form a clear dark beard, while the head and breast often pick up an orange or rust stain from dust and mud.
It usually keeps quiet, but breeding displays bring shrill whistles and a sharp, falcon-like call near the nest. On the ground it waddles, and in the air it moves low over rocky slopes, gliding and circling as it searches for food or drops a bone onto stone to break it open.
It lives in high mountains, cliffs, ledges, and caves, from Europe to Africa and parts of Asia. Much of its diet is bone, with some carrion, and it also carries food to the nest for chicks. In many places it stays year-round, though its range is patchy and it is rare in much of Europe.
Where to find
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On the city edge near steep rock faces, old quarries, and bridge spans — Bearded Vulture may circle overhead and drop bones onto stone below.
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Near rubbish tips or places where meat scraps and carcasses are left — look for a large raptor perched on a ledge, scanning the ground for a long time.
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Around mountain cable cars, cliffs, and empty passes above town — in flight, long narrow wings and a wedge-shaped tail stand out.
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On rocky terraces and high grazing slopes above the city — watch for a descent to bones or a carcass, then a quick lift back into the air.
