Vulture sp., Castelo de Noudar, Barrancos, Portugal - June 2024 (1 Viewer)

[kb57]

I was trying to get a decent photo of griffon vultures which were passing over Noudar Castle, Portugal yesterday. I was looking out for cinereous vultures amongst them, but although dark in appearance, had discounted this one when taking it because of the paler markings on the primary & secondary coverts.
Now I'm not so sure - it is looking like a possible moulting cinereous (or black, if you prefer...) due to bill colour, dark throat and tail shape - what do you think?

 

[Barred Wobbler]

A black vulture to me. Certainly not a griffon.

 

[kb57]

A black vulture to me. Certainly not a griffon.

Thanks - that's what I was hoping you'd say, I don't have any experience of this species and was fixated on paler wing coverts as a key griffon feature.

 

[Butty]

Looks just the ticket: head- & bill-pattern/colours, tail-shape, overall darkness of underside.

 

[kb57]

Thanks for your input @Barred Wobbler and @Butty - worth noting the limitations of Hume et al, which only illustrates a juvenile underside flight view - unlike Forsman which includes moulting adults....pretty certain from the moult pattern and pattern of secondaries that this is a second individual in the same group of griffons passing over.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

That's certainly a black vulture too. General shape and head/beak says it all.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Griffon last summer for comparison. Head and beak quite different, 'balder' look, pale ruff, neck appears longer.

 

[tconzemi]

Second is a juvenile from last year just starting inner primary moult