Page 125 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Aegypius monachus
Black Vulture pale head with
black mask

very broad, pale brown ruff
square wings (darker on juvenile)
held flat

flat wings
when soaring
very dark massive, dark brown
pale forewings body (juvenile
feet paler)
ADULT
fresh feathers very
dark, fade paler
IN FLIGHT

ADULT
FLIGHT: prolonged, expert soaring and gliding
with very occasional deep, ponderous wingbeat;
flaps heavily in cold, still air.
ne of the world’s largest
Oflying birds, the Black Vulture’s
massive bulk and majestic soaring and
gliding flight give it terrific impact
whenever it is aloft. It exhibits great skill at
utilizing every updraught or breath of wind to soar
effortlessly without wingbeats. Its flat-winged flight
gives the Black Vulture a very broad, rectangular shape,
which is less elegant and shapely than a Griffon
Vulture’s. Unlike the Griffon Vulture, it nests and often
perches in trees (rather than on cliffs), and also spends
much time on the ground, especially near food such as
a sheep or goat carcass.
VOICE Mostly silent.
NESTING Huge stick nest in flat-topped trees; 1 egg,
1 brood;April–June. GIANTS OF THE AIR
FEEDING Rarely catches live prey; mostly eats A very impressive bird, the Black Vulture has great presence in the sky, even
carrion; also feeds at special feeding stations. among equally large Griffon Vultures; its pale head and feet may be obvious.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Restricted to C Spain, Majorca, and
two-tone smaller very rare in NE Greece. Resident
underwings wings all year in these small areas and
only very rare vagrant elsewhere.
longer
head Rare vulture of mountainous
longer tail regions and rolling uplands with
mixed forest and open ground.
GRIFFON VULTURE GOLDEN EAGLE Seen in the UK
see p.122 see p.126 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 1–1.15m (3 1 ⁄4 –3 3 ⁄4ft) Wingspan 2.5–2.85m (8 1 ⁄4 –9 1 ⁄4ft) Weight 7–11.5kg (15–25lb)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 25 years Status Vulnerable
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