Wildfinder
The Wild Things
Take Action
Travel
Adopt an Animal
Support WWF
|
 |
Bearded Vulture
Bonecrusher of legends and fables
Common Name: Bearded vulturer; Lammergeier; Gypaéte (Fr); Quebrantahuesos(Sp)
Scientific Name: Gypaetus barbatus
Habitat: High mountains and open ranges.
Location: Mountainous regions of Africa, Southern Europe and Asia.
Population: (Alpine:) Approximately 100 breeding pairs exist in Europe today, mostly in the Pyrenees between France and Spain; on the Island of Corsica, on the Greek island of Crete and mainland Greece. It has also been reintroduced in the European Alps.
Background
© WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
The bearded vulture is the Alps largest bird and one of the rarest raptors in Europe. It nests on high rock ledges and inhabits exclusively high mountainous areas (1,600-13,000 feet). It can be found usually above the tree line, in rugged areas with steep slopes and in alpine pastures Bearded Vultures were once found in almost all mountain ranges of southern Europe and in the Alps.
Probably no other raptor has made such a deep impression on people, as is shown by the numerous fables and legends concerning it.
Physical Description
Size
The Bearded vulture reaches 45 inches in size (from head to tail), its wingspan is almost 90 inches and it weighs about 11-15 pounds.
Color
Bearded vultures have reddish yellow or white plumage on the head and breast with a grey black tail and wings. In the adult individual the black strip over the eyes and the bristles at the base of the beak form the distinctive appearance of a beard. The white color of the neck and under parts of captive birds as opposed to the reddish plumage of wild ones remained unexplained for many years, until it was discovered that wild birds deliberately put iron oxide on their plumage. When captive birds were provided with iron-rich water they started to bathe in it as they do in the wild and plumage went reddish again!
Habitat
Major habitat type
High mountains and open ranges
Range States
(Alpine) France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Germany
Geographical Location
Mountainous regions of Africa, Southern Europe and Asia
Ecological Region
European Alps, Mediterranean
Interesting Facts
The name of the Lammergeier originates from German, in which language it means "lamb-vulture." This raptor will often drop bones from a great height in order to crack them open and gain access the bone marrow inside - hence its old name of Ossifrage (or Bone Crusher).
Click the globe to explore WWF's work
