Griffon Vulture vs Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

Gyps fulvus compared with Pernis celebensis

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 — —

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

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.

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

Geographic Range & Migration

Griffon Vulture

Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Resident in most of its range.

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Griffon Vulture

Least Concern

Sulawesi Honey-buzzard

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

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.

Related Comparisons

More Birds to Explore