Mountains, cliffs, and open grasslands. Nests on cliff ledges in colonies. Requires thermals for soaring flight.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Griffon Vulture
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.
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
Griffon Vulture
Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Resident in most of its range.
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Griffon Vulture
Least Concern
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Griffon Vulture
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
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
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More Birds in Family
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