Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="griffon-vulture"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/griffon-vulture/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/griffon-vulture/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/griffon-vulture/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="griffon-vulture"></birdfyi-bird>About
The griffon vulture is one of Europe's largest flying birds and a crucial scavenger in Mediterranean ecosystems. These social birds nest in large cliff colonies and can soar for hours using thermals without flapping. Vulture populations faced a crisis from the veterinary drug diclofenac, which proved fatal when consumed through contaminated carcasses.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Body Length | 100.0 cm | 39.4 in |
| Wingspan | 260.0 cm | 102.4 in |
| Weight | 8500.0 g | 299.83 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Tawny-brown body with darker flight feathers. White neck ruff and bare greyish head. Long broad wings held flat when soaring.
Bill
Hooked yellowish bill adapted for tearing carrion
Habitat & Range
Mountains, cliffs, and open grasslands. Nests on cliff ledges in colonies. Requires thermals for soaring flight.
Geographic Range
Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Resident in most of its range.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively carrion, primarily large mammal carcasses. Feeds communally, with groups of vultures able to strip a carcass in minutes.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: O,PL. Incubation: 49-65 days. Fledging: 97-136 days.
Clutch Size
1
Sound
Song
Generally silent; hisses and grunts at carrion with other vultures. Gives low croaking 'arrr' near nest. At colonies produces cackling and grunting — not melodic vocalizations.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles) |
| Family | Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites) |
| Genus | Gyps |
| Species | Gyps fulvus |
Names in Other Languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Arabic | نسر أسمر |
| Chinese | 兀鹫 |
| French | vautour fauve |
| German | Gänsegeier |
| Indonesian | Hering griffon |
| Japanese | シロエリハゲワシ |
| Korean | 그리폰독수리 |
| Portuguese | Abutre-fouveiro |
| Russian | Белоголовый сип |
| Spanish | buitre leonado |
| Turkish | Kızıl akbaba |
Distribution
Griffon Vulture has been recorded in 10 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Griffon Vulture eat?
Where does the Griffon Vulture live?
Is the Griffon Vulture endangered?
How does the Griffon Vulture nest?
What does the Griffon Vulture sound like?
How big is the Griffon Vulture?
What order and family does the Griffon Vulture belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Accipitridae family