Griffon Vulture vs Bearded Vulture
Gyps fulvus compared with Gypaetus barbatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Griffon Vulture | Bearded Vulture |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gyps fulvus | Gypaetus barbatus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 260.0 cm (102.4 in) | 152.1 cm (59.9 in) |
| Weight | 8500.0 g (299.83 oz) | 5800.0 g (204.59 oz) |
| Diet | Exclusively carrion, primarily large mammal carcasses. Feeds communally, with groups of vultures able to strip … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Griffon Vulture
Mountains, cliffs, and open grasslands. Nests on cliff ledges in colonies. Requires thermals for soaring flight.
Song & Call Comparison
Griffon Vulture
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.
Bearded Vulture
Geographic Range & Migration
Griffon Vulture
Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Resident in most of its range.
Bearded Vulture
Conservation Status
Griffon Vulture
Bearded Vulture
How to Tell Them Apart
Griffon Vulture
Tawny-brown body with darker flight feathers. White neck ruff and bare greyish head. Long broad wings held flat when soaring.
Hooked yellowish bill adapted for tearing carrion
Bearded Vulture
About These Birds
Griffon Vulture
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.
Bearded Vulture
The Bearded Vulture, or Lammergeier, is a spectacular high-mountain raptor found from the Pyrenees and Africa to Central and South Asia. Adults are orange-buff below, dark above, with a long diamond-shaped tail and striking beard of dark bristles below the bill. Uniquely, it feeds almost exclusively on bones, dropping them from height onto rocks to access the nutritious marrow.