The Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture - Gypaetus barbatus – has a specialized diet of nutritious bone marrow, which makes up 90% of its diet. They can swallow whole bones up to the size of a lamb's femur and its powerful digestive system quickly dissolves even large pieces. The Lammergeier has learned to crack bones too large to be swallowed by carrying them up to a great height and then dropping them onto rocks below, smashing them into smaller pieces and exposing the nutritious marrow. Live tortoises are also dropped in similar fashion to crack them open. Although dropping bones is a regular habit, the Lammergeier also obtains food by other means and has been known to seize and carry off live prey such as monitor lizard.

Description

This is a large bird and unlike other vultures it has feathers on the head and neck.

The adult has a buff-yellow body and head, the latter with the black moustaches which give this species its alternative name. It may rub mud over its chin, breast and leg feathers, giving these areas a rust-coloured appearance. The tail feathers and wings are grey. The juvenile bird is dark all over, and takes five years to reach full maturity. Females are slightly larger than males.  

Call

These birds are silent, apart from shrill whistles at the breeding sites.

Breeding

The Lammergeier breeds in caves and on cliffs in mountain ranges at 400-2000 metres above sea level. It builds a bulky stick nest and lays one or two eggs from late December to early March. Both adults participate in incubation. After 54-58 days the young hatch in February or March and after 112-119 days they fledge in June. Although both chicks may hatch one normally dies due to sibling aggression. The young remain in the area until the beginning of the next breeding cycle in November. Sexual maturity is at about seven years.

Conservation Status –

It is threatened within its range in Europe. This species has a large range across Asia and Africa and is relatively common in parts of its range. As such the species is listed as least concern. It was formerly killed in significant numbers because people that it carried off children and domestic animals. These birds have also been hunted and still are hunted by trophy hunters.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours to create a custom tour for you to see these majestic birds or book on the following scheduled Aves Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure: -

Aves Highlands/Tembe Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure