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Difference between revisions of "Cinereous Vulture" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Alternative names: Black Vulture<sup>[[#Taxonomy|1]]</sup>; Eurasian Black Vulture; Monk Vulture'''
 
'''Alternative names: Black Vulture<sup>[[#Taxonomy|1]]</sup>; Eurasian Black Vulture; Monk Vulture'''
[[Image:BLACK VULTURE.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Icharus|Icharus}}<br />Caceres province, [[Extremadura]], April 2007 ]]
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[[Image:Cinereous_Vulture_1_Alok.JPG|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Jorbeer Conservation Reserve, Bikaner [[Rajasthan]], [[India]], 23 February 2022 ]]
 
;[[:Category:Aegypius|Aegypius]] monachus
 
;[[:Category:Aegypius|Aegypius]] monachus
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
98–110 cm<br />
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Length 98–110 cm, wingspan 2.5–2.85 m, weight 7–12.5 kg<br />
Blackish-brown plumage
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*Huge, with blackish-brown plumage
 
*Bald head
 
*Bald head
 
*Dark eye markings
 
*Dark eye markings
 
*Blue-grey cere
 
*Blue-grey cere
*Brown bill
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*Bill massive, with pinkish base and dark horn-grey tip
*Grey legs and feet
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*Grey legs and feet (visible at distance if catching the sun)
 +
*In flight shows big, square wings and wedge-shaped tail
 +
*Adult: tawny brown shoulder ruff contrasting with black throat and dark brown body feathering
 +
*Immature: black shoulder ruff, no contrast with blackish body feathering
 +
[[Image:Two Black Vultures and a Griffon Vulture, Portugal.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Left to right: an adult Eurasian Black Vulture, a [[Griffon Vulture]], and a juvenile Eurasian Black Vulture<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Nutcracker|Nutcracker}}<br />near Mertola, [[Baixo Alentejo]], [[Portugal]], April 2016]]
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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
[[Eurasia]]. Rare and declining in the [[Western Palearctic]], in the west now breeding only in central [[Spain]] and [[Mallorca]] and in the east in northern [[Greece]], [[Turkey]] and [[Armenia]], the Crimea and the Caucasus.
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[[Eurasia]]. Populations in the [[Western Palearctic]] are rare and declining in many areas, but in the west conservation action has resulted in increases in central [[Spain]] and [[Mallorca]] and reintroductions in northeast Spain and southern [[France]]. Elsewhere, rare in the east of Europe in northern [[Greece]] and southern [[Bulgaria]]; in Asia rare in [[Turkey]] and [[Armenia]], the Crimea and the Caucasus, but more numerous in central Asia.
  
 
In 1996 began breeding in very small numbers in eastern [[Portugal]] after an absence of several decades and in the same year the first breeding in [[France]] for a century took place in the Massif Central as a result of a reintroduction programme. Occurs with some regularity in the Rhodope Mts of [[Bulgaria]] but breeding is rare. More numerous and widespread further east ranging from northern [[Iran]] east to northern and western [[China]].  
 
In 1996 began breeding in very small numbers in eastern [[Portugal]] after an absence of several decades and in the same year the first breeding in [[France]] for a century took place in the Massif Central as a result of a reintroduction programme. Occurs with some regularity in the Rhodope Mts of [[Bulgaria]] but breeding is rare. More numerous and widespread further east ranging from northern [[Iran]] east to northern and western [[China]].  
[[Image:Cinereous_Vulture.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Either a young adult or a 5th-7th calendar year subadult<br />Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Salto del Gitano (Gypys's leap), [[Monfrague National Park]], [[Extremadura]], [[Spain]], May 2004]]
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[[Image:Cinereous_Vulture.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Either a young adult or a 5th-7th calendar year subadult<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Salto del Gitano, [[Monfrague National Park]], [[Extremadura]], [[Spain]], May 2004]]
 
Most are resident as adults, but young birds disperse, often to areas outside breeding range. Guadalquivir marismas are a regular haunt of immatures in [[Spain]], especially in winter and there are often small numbers present in south [[Portugal]]. Mallorcan birds are rarely seen outside breeding range in the mountains of the north. Very small numbers recorded annually crossing the Bosphorus, and recorded south to Sinai and [[Egypt]].
 
Most are resident as adults, but young birds disperse, often to areas outside breeding range. Guadalquivir marismas are a regular haunt of immatures in [[Spain]], especially in winter and there are often small numbers present in south [[Portugal]]. Mallorcan birds are rarely seen outside breeding range in the mountains of the north. Very small numbers recorded annually crossing the Bosphorus, and recorded south to Sinai and [[Egypt]].
  
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Vagrants also recorded in [[Switzerland]], [[Cyprus]] and the Straits of Messina, [[Sicily]]. In the east a rare visitor to [[Burma]] and northern [[Indochina]] and a vagrant to [[Hong Kong]] and [[Japan]].
 
Vagrants also recorded in [[Switzerland]], [[Cyprus]] and the Straits of Messina, [[Sicily]]. In the east a rare visitor to [[Burma]] and northern [[Indochina]] and a vagrant to [[Hong Kong]] and [[Japan]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
#Not to be confused with [[Black Vulture]], ''Coragyps atratus''.
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[[File:Cinerous_Vulture_Immature_BVJ.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|bievrejj|bievrejj}}<br />Sierra de Fuentas, Caceres, [[Extremadura]], [[Spain]], 27 April 2016]]
 +
This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
  
This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
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#Not to be confused with [[Black Vulture|[American] Black Vulture]] ''Coragyps atratus''.
  
 
==Habitat==  
 
==Habitat==  
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==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
Searches for carrion over open areas with domestic stock or wild ungulates.
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Searches for carrion over open areas with domestic stock or wild ungulates. The largest vulture in the Old World (South America's [[Andean Condor]] is slightly larger, and [[California Condor]] is about the same size), with a powerful bill capable of tearing through tough animal skins. Dominates over other vultures at carcasses.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
Nest is usually built in a tree, sometimes on a rock ledge. Searches for carrion over open areas with domestic stock or wild ungulates.
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Nest is usually built in a tree, sometimes on a rock ledge. One egg laid (very rarely two); incubation lasts 2 months and the chick takes 3-4 months to fledge, and most of the rest of the year to reach full independence. Pairs often takes a year out between nesting attempts.
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Wikipedia
 
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Wikipedia
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Aegypius+monachus }}
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{{GSearch|"Aegypius monachus" {{!}} "Cinereous Vulture" {{!}} "Black Vulture" {{!}} "Eurasian Black Vulture" {{!}} "Monk Vulture"}}
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Aegypius]]
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{{VSearch|"Aegypius monachus" {{!}} "Cinereous Vulture" {{!}} "Black Vulture" {{!}} "Eurasian Black Vulture" {{!}} "Monk Vulture"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Aegypius]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 20:31, 20 February 2023

Alternative names: Black Vulture1; Eurasian Black Vulture; Monk Vulture

Photo © by Alok Tewari
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve, Bikaner Rajasthan, India, 23 February 2022
Aegypius monachus

Identification

Length 98–110 cm, wingspan 2.5–2.85 m, weight 7–12.5 kg

  • Huge, with blackish-brown plumage
  • Bald head
  • Dark eye markings
  • Blue-grey cere
  • Bill massive, with pinkish base and dark horn-grey tip
  • Grey legs and feet (visible at distance if catching the sun)
  • In flight shows big, square wings and wedge-shaped tail
  • Adult: tawny brown shoulder ruff contrasting with black throat and dark brown body feathering
  • Immature: black shoulder ruff, no contrast with blackish body feathering
Left to right: an adult Eurasian Black Vulture, a Griffon Vulture, and a juvenile Eurasian Black Vulture
Photo © by Nutcracker
near Mertola, Baixo Alentejo, Portugal, April 2016

Distribution

Eurasia. Populations in the Western Palearctic are rare and declining in many areas, but in the west conservation action has resulted in increases in central Spain and Mallorca and reintroductions in northeast Spain and southern France. Elsewhere, rare in the east of Europe in northern Greece and southern Bulgaria; in Asia rare in Turkey and Armenia, the Crimea and the Caucasus, but more numerous in central Asia.

In 1996 began breeding in very small numbers in eastern Portugal after an absence of several decades and in the same year the first breeding in France for a century took place in the Massif Central as a result of a reintroduction programme. Occurs with some regularity in the Rhodope Mts of Bulgaria but breeding is rare. More numerous and widespread further east ranging from northern Iran east to northern and western China.

Either a young adult or a 5th-7th calendar year subadult
Photo © by Steve G
Salto del Gitano, Monfrague National Park, Extremadura, Spain, May 2004

Most are resident as adults, but young birds disperse, often to areas outside breeding range. Guadalquivir marismas are a regular haunt of immatures in Spain, especially in winter and there are often small numbers present in south Portugal. Mallorcan birds are rarely seen outside breeding range in the mountains of the north. Very small numbers recorded annually crossing the Bosphorus, and recorded south to Sinai and Egypt.

In the past also recorded in many European countries north to the Netherlands, Denmark and Estonia but today most records from northern Europe are thought more likely to be escapes. One recorded in Wales in the winter of 1977-78 is not accepted as a wild bird. However, birds thought to be genuine vagrants recorded in Tunisia in March 1991 and southern France in April 1991. More recently a juvenile in the Netherlands in July-August 2000 is accepted as a wild bird.

Vagrants also recorded in Switzerland, Cyprus and the Straits of Messina, Sicily. In the east a rare visitor to Burma and northern Indochina and a vagrant to Hong Kong and Japan.

Taxonomy

Immature
Photo © by bievrejj
Sierra de Fuentas, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain, 27 April 2016

This is a monotypic species[1].

  1. Not to be confused with [American] Black Vulture Coragyps atratus.

Habitat

Found in hilly and mountainous country, sometimes lowlands, in wooded or open areas.

Behaviour

Diet

Searches for carrion over open areas with domestic stock or wild ungulates. The largest vulture in the Old World (South America's Andean Condor is slightly larger, and California Condor is about the same size), with a powerful bill capable of tearing through tough animal skins. Dominates over other vultures at carcasses.

Breeding

Nest is usually built in a tree, sometimes on a rock ledge. One egg laid (very rarely two); incubation lasts 2 months and the chick takes 3-4 months to fledge, and most of the rest of the year to reach full independence. Pairs often takes a year out between nesting attempts.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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