Bearded Vulture

## Description

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus ), also known as the lammergeier and ossifrage, is a very large bird of prey and the only member of the genus Gypaetus. This bird is also identified as Huma bird or Homa bird in Iran and north west Asia. Traditionally considered an Old World vulture, it actually forms a separate minor lineage of Accipitridae together with the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus ), its closest living relative. It is not much more closely related to the Old World vultures proper than to, for example, hawks, and differs from the former by its feathered neck. Although dissimilar, the Egyptian and bearded vulture each have a lozenge-shaped tail—unusual among birds of prey.

The population of this species continues to decline. In 2004, it was classified by the IUCN Red List as least concern; since 2014, it is listed as near threatened. The bearded vulture is the only known vertebrate whose diet consists almost exclusively (70 to 90 percent) of bone. It lives and breeds on crags in high mountains in southern Europe, the Caucasus, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Tibet, laying one or two eggs in mid-winter that hatch at the beginning of spring. Populations are residents.

## Appearance

The Bearded vulture is a bird of prey and the only member of its genus. This mysterious scavenger is also identified as a mythical bird in Iran and northwest Asia. It is essentially unmistakable with other vultures or indeed other birds in flight due to its long, narrow wings and long, wedge-shaped tail. Unlike most vultures, the Bearded vulture does not have a bald head. The bird is relatively small-headed, although its neck is powerful and thick. The gait on the ground is waddling and the feet are large and powerful. The adult is mostly dark gray, rusty, and whitish in color. It is grey-blue to grey-black above. The creamy-colored forehead contrasts against a black band across the eyes and lores and bristles under the chin, which form a black beard that give the bird its English name. Bearded vultures are variably orange or rust of plumage on their head, breast, and leg feathers. This coloration may come from dust-bathing, rubbing mud on its body, or from drinking in mineral-rich waters.

## Distribution

Bearded vultures occur in mountainous regions in the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Arabian Peninsula, the Caucasus region, the Zagros Mountains, the Alborz, the Koh-i-Baba in Bamyan, Afghanistan, the Altai Mountains, the Himalayas, Ladakh in northern India, western and central China. In Africa, they are found in the Atlas Mountains, the Ethiopian Highlands, and south from Sudan to northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, central Kenya, and northern Tanzania. An isolated population inhabits the Drakensberg of South Africa. Bearded vultures are associated with mountains and inselbergs with plentiful cliffs, crags, precipices, canyons, and gorges. They are often found near alpine pastures and meadows, montane grassland and heath, steep-sided, rocky wadis, high steppe and are occasional around forests. In Ethiopia, these birds are now common on the outskirts of small villages and towns.

## Behavior

Bearded vultures are sedentary and occupy an enormous territory year-round. They live in pairs but outside of the breeding season prefer to spend their time singly. These birds are active during the day soaring for many hours in search of carcasses or live prey. They may forage over two square kilometers each day. When feeding Bearded vultures can swallow whole or bite through brittle bones up to the size of a lamb's femur and their powerful digestive system quickly dissolves even large pieces. Since they favor bone marrow, these birds have learned to crack bones too large to be swallowed by carrying them in flight to a height of 50-150 m (160-490 ft) above the ground and then dropping them onto rocks below; this smashes them into smaller pieces and exposes the nutritious marrow. They can fly with bones up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter and weighing over 4 kg (8.8 lb), or nearly equal to their own weight. After dropping the large bones, the Bearded vulture spirals or glides down to inspect them and may repeat the act if the bone is not sufficiently cracked. This learned skill requires extensive practice by immature birds and takes up to 7 years to master. Less frequently, these birds may break bones (usually of medium size) by hammering them with their bill directly into rocks while perched. Live prey is usually predaciously seized and dropped in flight. When feeding on carrion, Bearded vultures prefer limbs of sheep and other small mammals and they carry the food to the nest, unlike other vultures which feed their young by regurgitation.

## Diet

Bearded vultures are scavengers, feeding mostly on the remains of dead animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles. They usually disdain the actual meat and eat only bone marrow. During the breeding season, however, they feed mainly on carrion.

## Reproduction

Bearded vultures are monogamous and form strong pair bonds. However, sometimes they may exhibit a polyandrous mating system in which one female has more than one partner. The breeding period is variable, being December through September in Eurasia, November to June in the Indian subcontinent, October to May in Ethiopia, throughout the year in eastern Africa, and May to January in southern Africa. The territorial and breeding display between Bearded vultures is spectacular. It involves the showing of talons, tumbling, and spiraling while in solo flight. The large birds also regularly lock feet with each other and fall some distance through the sky with each other. Pairs usually nest in caves and on ledges and rock outcrops or caves on steep rock walls. The nest is a massive pile of sticks with a covering of various animal matter from food, after repeated uses. The female usually lays a clutch of 1 to 2 eggs (rarely 3) which are incubated for 53 to 60 days. The chicks hatch helpless and rely on their parents for food, warmth, and protection. They spend 100 to 130 days in the nest before fledging and may be dependent on their parents for up to 2 years. It usually takes them 5 years to reach full maturity.

## Population

### Population threats

The Bearded vulture is one of the most endangered European bird species. Over the last century, its abundance and breeding range have drastically declined due to the increase in human population and infrastructure. The increase of infrastructure includes the building of houses, roads, and power lines. Therefore the major threats to the Bearded vulture include a decrease in habitat space, fatal collisions with energy infrastructure, reduced food availability, poisons left out for carnivores, and direct persecution in the form of Trophy Hunting.

### Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Bearded vulture is 2,000-10,000 individuals, roughly equating to 1,300-6,700 mature individuals. In Europe, the population of this species consists of 580-790 pairs, which equates to 1,200-1,600 mature individuals. Currently, the Bearded vulture is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

### Ecological niche

As carrion scavengers, Bearded vultures play an important role in their ecosystem. By removing animal remains these birds clean up the environment, helping to prevent diseases from spreading.

## Fun Facts for Kids

The scientific name of the Bearded vulture means "bearded vulture-eagle".

The other common name of this bird 'lammergeyer' originates from the German word Lämmergeier, which means "lamb-vulture". This name stems from the belief that it attacked lambs.

The Bearded vulture is the only living bird species that specializes in feeding on bone marrow. Its old name ossifrage means "bone breaker" and relates to this habit.

When it comes to live prey, tortoises seem to be especially favored by Bearded vultures depending on their local abundance. Tortoises preyed on may be nearly as heavy as the preying vulture. To kill tortoises, Bearded vultures fly with them to some height and drop them to crack open the bulky reptiles' hard shells. The other birds of prey that kill tortoises, in the same way, are Golden eagles.

Iranian mythology considers the rare Bearded vulture (Persian: هما, 'Homa') the symbol of luck and happiness. It was believed that if the shadow of a Homa fell on one, he would rise to sovereignty and anyone shooting the bird would die in forty days.