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Difference between revisions of "Indian Vulture" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:LBV 1 .jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Jugal+Tiwari|Jugal Tiwari}}<br>Location: Kutch, Gujarat, [[India]], September, 2008]]
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[[Image:LBV 1 .jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|Jugal+Tiwari|Jugal Tiwari}}<br>Kutch, Gujarat, [[India]], 12 September, 2008]]
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'''Alternative name: Indian Griffon Vulture'''
 
 
;[[:Category:Gyps|Gyps]] indicus
 
;[[:Category:Gyps|Gyps]] indicus
−
 
−
[[Image:Long-billed_Vulture_in_flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by Rajiv Lather<br/>Location: Rajasthan, India]]
 
−
 
−
==Conservation Status==
 
−
Also known as the '''Indian Griffon Vulture''', this species is becoming extremely rare.  The rapid decline is thought to be due to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac, which is used in southern Asia as a livestock treatment.  It is extremely toxic to vultures when they feed on the carcasses of treated cattle.  The drug causes fatal kidney failure.  Populations of the white-rumped vulture and slender-billed vulture have also declined by more than 90 percent in the years from 1992 and 2000.  On the basis of their catastrophic declines, the '''IUCN-World Conservation Union''' has listed these species as '''critically endangered''': the highest level of threat.
 
−
 
−
The February 2007 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine has an article on the problem and what conservationists are doing about it: [http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2007/february/vulture.php?page=1]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 +
[[Image:Long-billed_Vulture_in_flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}}<br/>Rajasthan, [[India]], 5 January 2007]]
 
Length: 80-100 cm (31.5-39 in); weight: 5.5-6.3 kg (12-13.8 lbs); wingspan 205-229 cm (6.75-7.5 ft). A medium-sized vulture.
 
Length: 80-100 cm (31.5-39 in); weight: 5.5-6.3 kg (12-13.8 lbs); wingspan 205-229 cm (6.75-7.5 ft). A medium-sized vulture.
 
* Combination of dark-skinned head, neck and crop with golden-buffy body diagnostic
 
* Combination of dark-skinned head, neck and crop with golden-buffy body diagnostic
−
* Head and long bare neck are grey-brown and sparsely covered with white down, with a buff ruff at the base
+
* Head and long bare neck are dark grey-brown and sparsely covered with white down, with a buff ruff at the base
 
* Eyes brown
 
* Eyes brown
 
* Ceres dull grey-green
 
* Ceres dull grey-green
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* Whitish lower belly and undertail-coverts
 
* Whitish lower belly and undertail-coverts
 
* Light brown under-wing coverts (see flight shot)
 
* Light brown under-wing coverts (see flight shot)
−
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a pale downy neck and head and diffuse streaks on pale underparts (much paler than in [[White-rumped Vulture]])
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Sexes similar.<br />
 +
Juveniles have a pale downy neck and head and diffuse streaks on pale underparts (much paler than in [[White-rumped Vulture]])
 
====Similar species====
 
====Similar species====
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Paler, tawnier and more powerfully built than [[Slender-billed Vulture]] or [[White-backed Vulture]]. Smaller and less tawny than [[Eurasian Griffon]] or [[Himalayan Griffon]], often lacks rufous colouration of [[Eurasian Griffon]].
+
Paler, tawnier and more powerfully built than [[Slender-billed Vulture]] or [[White-rumped Vulture]].<br />
 +
Smaller and less tawny than [[Eurasian Griffon]] or [[Himalayan Griffon]].<br />
 +
Often lacks rufous colouration of [[Eurasian Griffon]].
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
−
Formerly widespread in the [[India]]n Subcontinent, from southeast [[Pakistan]] over much of [[India]]. Now rare and local. Range poorly documented owing to widespread confusion with Slender-billed Vulture. One record from [[Afghanistan]] doubtful.<br />
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[[Image:LBV White-rumped Vulture.jpg|thumb|350px|right|left: Indian Vulture, right: [[White-rumped Vulture]]<br />Compare bill colour and colour of back<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Jugal+Tiwari|Jugal Tiwari}}<br/>Kutch, Gujarat, [[India]], 19 August 2010]]
 +
Formerly common and widespread in the [[India]]n Subcontinent, from southeast [[Pakistan]] over much of [[India]]. Now very rare and local (see Conservation status). Range poorly documented owing to widespread confusion with Slender-billed Vulture. One record from [[Afghanistan]] doubtful.<br />
 
Resident with some dispersal of young birds.  
 
Resident with some dispersal of young birds.  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species.<br />
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species.<br />
−
[[Slender-billed Vulture]] was formerly considered conspecific, the species then named [[Long-billed Vulture]].
+
[[Slender-billed Vulture]] was formerly considered [[Dictionary_A-C#C|conspecific]], the species then named [[Long-billed Vulture]].
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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The two races differ slightly in habitat, perhaps an adaptation to the available terrain in their ranges.  ''G. i. indicus'' prefers mountainous country with crags and roosts in groups on crags, and ''G. i. tenuirostris'' inhabits plains without crags and roosts in trees or on buildings.  
+
Occurs in semi-desert, forested hills, open areas and around human habitation.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
−
Nests colonially on cliff ledges. Spends much of the day soaring on thermals, looking for food. The diet consists of carrion, usually putrid, but sometimes fresh. In some parts of their range, it is customary for human corpses to be placed in high places, for the Long-billed Vulture to feed on - this practise is deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions.
+
[[Image:indian_vulture_immature_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br>Jorbeer Conservation Reserve, Bikaner, Rajasthan, [[India]], 22 February 2022]]
 +
Spends much of the day soaring on thermals, looking for food.
 +
====Diet====
 +
The diet consists of carrion, usually putrid, but sometimes fresh.  
 +
====Breeding====
 +
Nests colonially on cliff ledges or in ruins. Locally in Rajasthan also in trees.
 +
====In Culture====
 +
In some parts of their range, it is customary for human corpses to be placed in high places, for Vultures to feed on - this practise is deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions.<br />
 +
==Conservation Status==
 +
This species is becoming extremely rare. The rapid decline is thought to be due to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac, which is used in southern [[Asia]] as a livestock treatment.  It is extremely toxic to vultures when they feed on the carcasses of treated cattle. The drug causes fatal kidney failure.  Populations of [[White-rumped Vulture]] and [[Slender-billed Vulture]] have also declined by more than 90 percent in the years from 1992 and 2000. On the basis of their catastrophic declines, the '''IUCN-World Conservation Union''' has listed these species as '''critically endangered''': the highest level of threat.
 +
 
 +
The February 2007 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine has an article on the problem and what conservationists are doing about it.
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug21}}#{{Ref-RasmussenAnderton05}}#[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-vanishing-145631290/ Story in] Smithsonian Magazine about the vanishing Indian Vultures (2007)
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Gyps+indicus}}
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{{GSearch|"Gyps indicus" {{!}} "Indian Vulture"}}
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*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=844&Bird_Image_ID=18448&Bird_Family_ID=96  View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Gyps]]
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{{VSearch|"Gyps indicus" {{!}} "Indian Vulture"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
 +
 
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Gyps]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 20:24, 3 June 2023

Photo © by Jugal Tiwari
Kutch, Gujarat, India, 12 September, 2008
Gyps indicus

Identification

Photo © by Rajiv Lather
Rajasthan, India, 5 January 2007

Length: 80-100 cm (31.5-39 in); weight: 5.5-6.3 kg (12-13.8 lbs); wingspan 205-229 cm (6.75-7.5 ft). A medium-sized vulture.

  • Combination of dark-skinned head, neck and crop with golden-buffy body diagnostic
  • Head and long bare neck are dark grey-brown and sparsely covered with white down, with a buff ruff at the base
  • Eyes brown
  • Ceres dull grey-green
  • Pale yellowish bill
  • Dark grey legs
  • Whitish lower belly and undertail-coverts
  • Light brown under-wing coverts (see flight shot)

Sexes similar.
Juveniles have a pale downy neck and head and diffuse streaks on pale underparts (much paler than in White-rumped Vulture)

Similar species

Paler, tawnier and more powerfully built than Slender-billed Vulture or White-rumped Vulture.
Smaller and less tawny than Eurasian Griffon or Himalayan Griffon.
Often lacks rufous colouration of Eurasian Griffon.

Distribution

left: Indian Vulture, right: White-rumped Vulture
Compare bill colour and colour of back
Photo © by Jugal Tiwari
Kutch, Gujarat, India, 19 August 2010

Formerly common and widespread in the Indian Subcontinent, from southeast Pakistan over much of India. Now very rare and local (see Conservation status). Range poorly documented owing to widespread confusion with Slender-billed Vulture. One record from Afghanistan doubtful.
Resident with some dispersal of young birds.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Slender-billed Vulture was formerly considered conspecific, the species then named Long-billed Vulture.

Habitat

Occurs in semi-desert, forested hills, open areas and around human habitation.

Behaviour

Immature
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India, 22 February 2022

Spends much of the day soaring on thermals, looking for food.

Diet

The diet consists of carrion, usually putrid, but sometimes fresh.

Breeding

Nests colonially on cliff ledges or in ruins. Locally in Rajasthan also in trees.

In Culture

In some parts of their range, it is customary for human corpses to be placed in high places, for Vultures to feed on - this practise is deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions.

Conservation Status

This species is becoming extremely rare. The rapid decline is thought to be due to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac, which is used in southern Asia as a livestock treatment. It is extremely toxic to vultures when they feed on the carcasses of treated cattle. The drug causes fatal kidney failure. Populations of White-rumped Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture have also declined by more than 90 percent in the years from 1992 and 2000. On the basis of their catastrophic declines, the IUCN-World Conservation Union has listed these species as critically endangered: the highest level of threat.

The February 2007 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine has an article on the problem and what conservationists are doing about it.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
  3. Story in Smithsonian Magazine about the vanishing Indian Vultures (2007)

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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