Griffon Vulture vs Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

Gyps fulvus compared with Pernis celebensis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Griffon Vulture Sulawesi Honey-buzzard
Scientific Name Gyps fulvus Pernis celebensis
Order Accipitriformes Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae Accipitridae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 100.0 cm (39.4 in)
Wingspan 260.0 cm (102.4 in) 70.0 cm (27.6 in)
Weight 8500.0 g (299.83 oz) 722.0 g (25.47 oz)
Diet Exclusively carrion, primarily large mammal carcasses. Feeds communally, with groups of vultures able to strip … --
Clutch Size 1 2
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Griffon Vulture 100.0 cm
Sulawesi Honey-buzzard
Wingspan
Griffon Vulture 260.0 cm
Sulawesi Honey-buzzard 70.0 cm
Weight
Griffon Vulture 8500.0 g
Sulawesi Honey-buzzard 722.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Griffon Vulture only

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard only

None

Griffon Vulture

Mountains, cliffs, and open grasslands. Nests on cliff ledges in colonies. Requires thermals for soaring flight.

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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.

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

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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.

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Griffon Vulture

Least Concern

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

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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

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

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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.

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Related Comparisons

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