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Bearded Vulture
Other Names:
Afrikaans: Baardassvoël, Lammergier
Sotho, South: Ntsu, Ntsu-kobokobo
Zulu: uKhozilwentshebe
Common Names: Lammergeier, Bearded Vulture-Eagle, Ossifrage (Bone breaker)
Gypaetus barbatus  © Mitchell Krog
Adult: Bearded Vultures are dark above with a whitish head (which, unlike other vultures, is feathered). They are rusty, yellowish or whitish below. Their facemask is black and their beard is bristly. They have long, pointed wings and a long, wedge-shaped tail.
Immature: Immatures are dark brown above and their head is blackish brown. They are brown with mottled white below. Immatures obtain their adult plumage in 7 years.
Length: 110cm
Wingspan: 263-282cm
Weight: 5200-6250g
Distribution: Bearded Vultures may be found in southern Europe, Africa, India and Tibet
Habitat: They inhabit mountainous terrain.
Food: Their diet consists of carrion and bones.
Breeding: The breeding season starts in May to July in South Africa. In the Northern Hemisphere, the breeding season is from mid December to mid February.
Nest: The nest is a large platform of sticks with a diameter of 2m. Females build the nest. It is lined with grass, hair, skin, bones, rags and dung in the central depression (mostly by the Male). Nests are located in caves or ledges on cliff faces.
Eggs: 1-2 white eggs are laid by the Female at intervals of 3-5 days.
Incubation: Eggs are incubated for 55-58 days by both parents.
Nestlings: Chicks are downy greyish brown at birth. Only one chick survives and is fed by both parents. It will fledge in 124-128 days.
Interesting Facts:
# Bones are dropped onto flat rocks in order to break the bone up into many pieces which are small enough to swallow. They are accurately dropped at heights of 50-150m. The same place in which bones are dropped are used for many years.
# 200 pairs have been recorded in South Africa.
# Adults have a home range of 40km in diameter but Immatures have a further range.
# Their rusty colour is obtained by the iron oxide whilst dusting or bathing. This is the reason why they are paler after the rain.
# Bearded Vultures have been successfully re-introduced into the Alps however they are one of the rarest raptors in Europe.
# The common name, Lämmergeier, means "lamb-vulture" or "lamb-hawk". This refers to the believe of these vultures attacking lamb.
# In Iran mythology, it is believed to be a symbol of good luck and happiness. Other Vultures: Condor, California Vulture, American Black Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Turkey Vulture, White-backed
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