Eurasian Griffon Vulture

March 30, 2023

A rare Eurasian griffon vulture was recently spotted at Delhi's Aravalli Biodiversity Park (ABP)

About Eurasian Griffon Vulture:

  • It is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.
  • It is one of the largest birds in the vulture family and is Europe’s second-largest bird.
  • Scientific Name: Gyps fulvus
  • Distribution:
    • It has a very large range, across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, from India to Portugal and Spain
    • They are most commonly found in countries that border the Mediterranean
  • Habitat:
    • They live in areas of mountains, plateaus, shrubland, grassland, and semi-desert, usually in warm climates, but also in harsher conditions of cold, rain, mist, and snow to secure particularly favourable breeding or foraging conditions.
    • They tend to avoid forests, lakes, wetlands, and marine waters.
  • Features:
    • The griffon vulture is 93–122 cm long with a 2.3–2.8 m wingspan.
    • Adult birds are identical with a white head, neck and ‘feathery’ ruff-like collar.
    • Its body and upper wings are pale brown.
    • They are social birds, often gathering in large groups to feed on a single carcass.
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN: Least Concern