| Revision as of 19:46, 30 July 2004 editXJaM (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users11,305 editsm sl:beloglavi jastreb← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:20, 16 August 2004 edit undoGilgamesh he (talk | contribs)719 editsm he+Next edit → | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 17:20, 16 August 2004
| Griffon vulture | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Gyps fulvus Hablizl, 1783 |
The Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.
It breeds on crags in mountains in southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia, laying one egg. Griffons may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Griffon Vultures have been re-introduced successfully into the Massif Central in France.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas. It often moves in flocks.
Griffon is a typical vulture, with a white bald head, very broad wings, short tail and a 2.5m wingspan. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers
This vulture grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on carrion.