Species Profile
Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachus
Quick Facts
Conservation
NTNear ThreatenedAlso known as: Eurasian Black Vulture, Monk Vulture
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Appearance
The Cinereous Vulture is a massive bird of prey characterised by its dark brown to black plumage, which gives it a sombre, monk-like appearance.
Unlike many other vultures, its head is covered in fine, dark feathers, and it has a distinctive hooked pale beak and bluish-grey skin around the eyes and neck.
Both sexes are similar in appearance, with females being larger and heavier. Juveniles are slightly darker than adults and may have a more reddish-brown tinge to their feathers. They gradually develop the adult colouration over several years.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Black
- Secondary
- Grey
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Grey
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Cinereous Vultures inhabit a wide range across Eurasia, from Spain and Portugal in the west to China and Mongolia in the east. They prefer open, mountainous terrain, forests, and steppes where they can easily spot carrion.
In winter, some populations move to lower elevations or more southerly regions. While not typically found, small numbers occasionally appear in the UK as rare vagrants, which is always an exciting sight.
Distribution
Diet
As obligate scavengers, Cinereous Vultures primarily feed on the carcasses of medium to large mammals. They tend to prefer muscle tissue and can tear through tough hides with their powerful beaks.
Occasionally, they may prey on small, weak, or injured animals. Unlike other species of vulture, it often feeds alone.
Behaviour
Cinereous Vultures are often solitary but may gather in small groups at carcasses. They soar effortlessly on thermal currents, using their keen eyesight to locate food.
These birds are generally silent, communicating through body language and hissing when competing for food.
Calls & Sounds
Generally silent, Cinereous Vultures communicate mainly through body language. When disturbed or competing for food, they may produce guttural croaks, hisses, or bill-clapping sounds. During courtship, pairs may exchange soft grunts or low whistles.
Nesting & Breeding
Cinereous Vultures form monogamous pairs that often mate for life. Breeding season typically begins in late winter or early spring, depending on the region.
Nests are massive structures of sticks, often reused and added to year after year, located in tall trees or on cliff ledges. The female usually lays a single egg, which is white with reddish-brown markings.
Both parents share incubation duties for about 50-55 days. The chick remains in the nest for 3-4 months before fledging but may continue to depend on its parents for several more months.
Conservation
The Cinereous Vulture faces threats from habitat loss, poisoning, and collisions with power lines.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting sites, establishing feeding stations, and educating communities about the importance of these scavengers in ecosystem health.
Elevation
Up to 4,500 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Adult Cinereous Vultures have few natural predators due to their size, but eggs and chicks may be vulnerable to large eagles, ravens, and some mammals.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them soaring high in mountainous or open areas
- Observe feeding sites like carcasses from a respectful distance
- Note their massive size and dark colouration for easy identification
- Visit specialised vulture feeding stations in protected areas
Did You Know?
- The Cinereous Vulture is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
- Their stomach acid is exceptionally corrosive, allowing them to digest rotting meat safely.
- A group of vultures in flight is called a 'kettle', while feeding vultures are known as a 'wake'.
- In April 2021, it was widely reported in the European media that a dead cinereous vulture found in Spain was found to have died as a result of poisoning after consuming meat from a livestock carcass that had been treated with the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac. This drug is banned throughout the Indian sub-continent following the almost total extinction of the vulture population in that region some thirty years ago as a result of diclofenac poisoning. The 2021 death of a cinereous vulture in Europe is believed to have been the first poisoning due to the drug on the continent and led to calls for a ban on the drug to protect the extremely rare and vulnerable species of vultures that inhabit the region.
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