Aegypius monachus
The Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a truly magnificent and imposing raptor, recognized as the largest and darkest Old World vulture. Adults present a striking, uniformly dark brown to blackish plumage, contrasting with a paler, sometimes grayish-pink, unfeathered head and neck, often covered in sparse, downy feathers. A distinctive dark facial patch around the eyes further characterizes its appearance. With an impressive wingspan frequently exceeding 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and often ...
Primarily inhabiting mountainous and hilly regions, the Cinereous Vulture prefers open woodlands, steppes, and semi-desert areas, often nesting in remote, isolated forests or on cliffs, typically at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,000 meters, but occasionally higher.
The Cinereous Vulture is almost exclusively a scavenger, feeding primarily on carrion of medium to large mammals, including livestock like sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as wild ungulates. They occasionally hunt sick or injured small animals, reptiles, or take eggs.
Cinereous Vultures are diurnal, beginning their foraging activities shortly after sunrise, often soaring on thermal updrafts to scan vast landscapes for carrion. They typically roost communally in large trees or on cliffs, sometimes sharing roosts with other vulture species. Their foraging strate...
The Cinereous Vulture boasts a vast, though increasingly fragmented, distribution across Eurasia, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to eastern China and Mongolia. Its core breeding range encompasses Spain, parts of the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus Mountains, Central Asia (e.g., K...
Near Threatened
- The Cinereous Vulture holds the title of the largest and heaviest Old World vulture, with wingspans often exceeding 2.8 meters (9 feet) and weights up to 14 kg (31 pounds). - Its scientific name, *Aegypius monachus*, translates to "Egyptian monk" or "vulture monk," possibly referring to its dar...