See text
|
|---|
Vultures, or vultures(lat. Gyps) is a genus of large birds of prey of the hawk family, widespread in the warm climates of the eastern hemisphere. They have an external resemblance to American vultures, but these two groups of birds are not close relatives.
Typical scavengers are distinguished mainly by dark plumage, unfeathered head (many with unfeathered necks) and long and wide wings. Prey is found exclusively with the help of sight (in contrast, American vultures have a good sense of smell). They have a powerful beak, but weak legs, unable to carry prey. The characteristic anatomical feature is a large volume of goiter and stomach for the consumption of large quantities of food.
Usually vultures soar at high altitudes, looking out for prey and keeping an eye on each other. If one of them sees food, he goes down, and the rest of the birds fly there. Fights for food often take place here, but a large group of birds is able to scare off some predators. Often the food they eat is completely spoiled. Pus or blood from the corpse flows through the unfeathered part of the body and flows down the special feather "collar" from the body of the vulture. High acidity of gastric juice kills dead bacteria and promotes dissolution of bones, and symbiotic bacteria in the intestines neutralize bacterial toxins. Periodically, vultures straighten their feathers so that the ultraviolet radiation kills bacteria on their plumage.
Views
- African vulture ( Gyps africanus)
- Bengal Vulture ( Gyps bengalensis)
- Cape vulture ( Gyps coprotheres)
- Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus)
- Snow Vulture ( Gyps himalayensis)
- Indian vulture ( Gyps indicus)
- African vulture ( Gyps rueppellii)
- Gyps tenuirostris
Vultures are also called species of birds of some other genera of the subfamily vultures, as well as American vultures.
Notes (edit)
Literature
- // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- James Ferguson-Lees, David A. Christie. Raptors of the World. - London: Christopher Helm, 2001 .-- 992 p. - ISBN 0-7136-8026-1
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
- Griffiths, Terry
- Gritsay
See what "Vultures" are in other dictionaries:
GRIFFS- GRIFFS, two groups of birds of prey. American vultures (7 species, including the condor; from Southern Canada to Tierra del Fuego) and the vultures of the Old World (14 species, including the vulture, bearded vulture; in Southern Europe, Africa, South Asia). The head and neck are naked, covered with ... ... Modern encyclopedia
GRIFFS- two groups of birds of prey: American vultures and real vultures. Wings span up to 3 m (condor). The head and neck are usually covered with short, sparse down. They feed on carrion and garbage (natural orderlies). True vultures (from the hawk family) 14 ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
GRIFFS- (Aegypiinae), subfamily of hawks. L. 95 114 cm. The head and neck are covered only with short down to protect against contamination when eating the entrails of corpses (with the exception of the bearded and palm G. (Gypohierax angolensis), which feeds on the fruits of the oilseed ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary
GRIFFS- (Greek, from gryps, hooked grypos). Riddles, tasks and intricate questions that the Greeks usually asked each other at the table. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Vultures- constitute a special group of diurnal birds of prey, consisting of three families. These are large birds (to which the largest predatory birds also belong) with a naked or covered with down or downy feathers annual and upper part of the neck, with a long beak, ... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
vultures- two groups of birds of prey: American vultures and real vultures. Wings span up to 3 m (condor). The head and neck are usually covered with short, sparse down. They feed on carrion and garbage (natural orderlies). Real vultures (from the hawk family) ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Vultures- two groups of large birds of the order of carnivores, united due to a similar lifestyle and structural features. Most G. feeds on carrion and garbage (only palm G. on fruits). G. soar for hours in the air (with the help of wide and long ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
GRIFFS
GRIFFS- Griphi, γρι̃φοι, actually "networks"; in a figurative sense, in the later Greek period of the Alexandrian scholars, this word denoted a difficult kind of riddles in prose and poetry, requiring a special strain of mind to resolve; this ... ... The Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities
GRIFFS- two groups of birds of prey: American G. and real G. Wings in a span of up to 3 m (condor). The head and neck are usually covered with short, sparse down. They feed on carrion and garbage (natural orderlies). There are 14 species of real G. (of the family hawk); in the mountains and ... ... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary
The bearded man from the vulture family, in contrast to his naked counterparts of this species, wears an elegant reddish collar. A bearded vulture has a bunch of black hair under his beak - a kind of beard. It is for this that he is called so. Favorite dish of this type of vulture are the bones. He feeds the chicks with them.
Bearded vulture
Bearded vulture predatory bird, however, he mainly feeds on carrion, but if he comes across a sick or wounded mountain or chamois, he will gladly finish them off.
Vulture bearded or lamb.
Sometimes a bearded vulture steals lambs from local shepherds, for which he received another name is vulture lamb.
A family of scavenger vultures. Who is the most elegant in this family?
Who would have thought, but the most elegant in the family of vultures loves to dig in the garbage! The main food of the vulture vulture is carrion, small animals and food waste.
Look at the photo of this bird. beautiful in its own way: the plumage is white, the tail and wings of the bird are decorated with long black feathers, part of the head of birds of this species is bald and bright yellow, the beak is curved and black at the end.
On the head of the vulture's neck there is a fashionable "hairstyle" - a crest that reflects all the emotions of the bird.
Once upon a time, these vultures were very trusting, believed that people were completely harmless and useful creatures, and kept close to human habitation in the hope of finding food for themselves.
In ancient Egypt, the vulture vulture was revered as a symbol of parental love. But in our country people decided that vulture vulture harm pets, and began to destroy him. In the Krasnodar Territory, there are only three dozen pairs of beautiful and useful birds of this species.
What does the largest bird in the family of vultures of giants look like?
- not only the largest bird in the family of vultures, but also the largest bird in Russia, living in the Caucasus, The weight of birds of this species reaches 12 kg, and the body length is up to 1 m.
Where the black vulture nests is the giant's bird nest.
Black vulture real giant in his family, and his nest is also huge. The black vulture nests in the mountains on sheer cliffs or old sturdy trees that can support such a giant nest.
Every year a married couple of this species completes their nest, and after a few years it increases to two meters in diameter and one meter in height! In this "house" vultures-parents will breed, and for three months they will protect it from heat, rain and predators.
To be honest, the first time I saw the black neck, I was amazed at its size and power, although I was only 14 years old, but I had a hunting rifle with me, which in those years I already handled well. Of course, I didn't shoot, I knew from school that the black vulture was listed in the red book, but even the gun seemed to me a weak defense, this bird seemed so powerful and terrible.
If you also happen to see a black vulture, then you certainly will not confuse it with anyone from the bird family. True, the adult bird has brown plumage, but the vulture chick, according to the name, is black. He has everything features characteristic of the vulture family- long naked neck, curved beak and very strong wings. Birds of this type of vulture, despite their outward clumsiness, are so strong and hardy that in search of food 300-400 km per day.
The vulture is one of the largest birds in the world. Ornithologists distinguish between the vultures of the Old (14 species) and the New World (7 species). The former, belonging to the hawk family, are found in Europe, Asia and Africa, and the latter are from the cathartida family, or American condors. The fact is that when cathartids were discovered in America, they were first attributed to vultures, with which they really resemble their lifestyle and appearance, but are very far from their systematic position. When this became clear, the cathartids began to be called American vultures. Vultures of the Old World belong to birds of prey: these are the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the black vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Himalayan or snow vulture (G. himalayensis), and the bearded vulture (Gyepatus barbatus).
The length of the body of the neck is about 1 m. The wingspan can reach 3 m. The weight is 8 - 12 kg. The bar speed in gliding flight reaches 45 km / h. He plans for hours at an altitude of 3300 m. At such a height, birds are helped not only by strong wings, but also by ascending currents of hot air.
Vultures are typically scavengers in their main diet. The corpses of large animals serve as food for them. All vultures have a bare or nearly naked head and neck. These birds are very useful, that without them many places, due to uncleaned and decomposed corpses of animals, would turn into dangerous, contaminated areas. Especially in countries with hot climates. Vultures feed in groups.
Vultures also watch for hunting four-legged, even move after them. They know: a cheetah or a leopard that lifts an antelope will leave something to them, the vultures. And, seating themselves around the feasting predator, the vultures patiently await the end of his meal. However, they do not always show patience and endurance - they often get closer, trying to steal a piece. Often, the birds become so impudent that the cheetah has to violently drive them away, and the leopard has to drag the prey up the tree, where the vultures cannot bother him.
True, predators also often use the "services" of vultures: a hungry lion or a flock of hungry hyenas, without getting anything edible, carefully observe the soaring birds. Noticing that they begin to decline, the predators rush in the direction where the birds are descending, hoping to arrive earlier to the dead animal or, at least, to share their prey with the birds.
Often, where vultures feast, you can see other birds - vultures and vultures. The bearded men arrive at the feast. Basically, birds behave peacefully - it seems that they do not have much competition: vultures eat mainly meat and muscles, vultures - tendons, bearded vultures swallow bones, vultures dig in the entrails. This does not mean that each of them does not pick up other parts as well. But this specialization is observed, and it reduces the rivalry between birds for food.
The neck does not migrate, but moves frequently. Only during the breeding season does it remain in one strictly defined territory. They nest in colonies on mountain "cornices" sheltered from the winds and in grottoes.
The age of puberty is between 4 and 6 years. Mating takes place from February to May. The female lays 1 egg, whitish or covered with brownish-red spots. The hatching process lasts 52 days. The egg is hatched alternately by both parents. They have married couples for the rest of their lives. Chicks begin to fly at the age of 4 months.
The vulture is a silent bird, but all the same makes different sounds - grunts, croaks and clucks.
The black vulture (Aegypius monachus) is one of the largest bird predators. The wingspan reaches 2.5 m, body weight - up to 12 kg.
Lives in Southern Europe, North Africa, Anterior, Middle and Central Asia. We find it in the Caucasus and in the southeast of Altai.
The black vulture looks ominous, however, like all scavengers. Their characteristic feature is the absence of plumage on the head and long neck, so as not to stain feathers when eating the insides of corpses. Around the base of the neck at the bar there is a "collar" of loose brown feathers.
The bird has a strong hooked beak, capable of tearing the strong tissues of dead animals. The vulture's digestive system is adapted to digest even rotting meat. But the paws of the vulture are weak, and the claws are short and slightly curved - after all, they are not used to kill prey. The vulture cannot lift and carry large prey.
Vultures adhere to places where herds of large herbivores live. Using updrafts, birds rise high up on their long wide wings and, soaring, look out for carrion from a height. He rarely resorts to active flight (with flapping wings). As soon as one of the vultures notices the prey and begins to decline, the others dive after him. Not every day vultures manage to have lunch, therefore, upon finding a dead animal, they try to eat as much as possible. Once full, vultures either fly over to the nearest trees, or move aside and sit at a distance, digesting prey.
The black vulture nests at the top of the forest or in treeless mountains. Nest is built on mountain slopes or trees. One egg in a clutch. Both parents incubate and feed the chicks. In total, the parents are associated with the nest for about four months.
The nest of this one of the largest birds of prey in Russia matches the owner. It is composed of thick branches and reaches 1 m in height and 2 m in diameter. Birds have been using it for several years, building on top every year. These structures are very strong and can easily support the weight of several people. Locals say that snow leopards love to rest in old vulture nests.
The black vulture is a rare bird, it is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the IUCN. The decline in the number of wild ungulates on which it feeds and the decrease in the area of nesting habitats immediately affected the number of these birds.
The number of breeding pairs on the territory of Russia does not exceed 10-15. Poisoned baits and traps, which are used by hunters when catching predatory animals, are dangerous for vultures. The extraction of vultures is prohibited in Russia. It is advisable to use the experience of Spain, where special feeding areas are arranged for vultures. Included in the IUCN-96 Red List and Appendix II of the CITES Convention.
Long-eared vulture, so named because on the neck near the head it has large bare folds of skin - "skin lobes" that resemble ears. These vultures live in East Africa. And in South Asia, there are Indian eared vultures similar to them.
Vultures settle in groups, and sometimes on rocks, where these birds usually nest. The group can consist of 20 - 30 couples. The most common griffon vulture. Lives in Southern Europe, on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa, in some places in Asia, in Central Asia and in the Crimea. It is a large bird - its wingspan is about 250 - 260 centimeters. The color of adult birds is light brown, the necklace and down on the head and neck are white.
Brown, or griffins (nests mainly in trees, does not form colonies), is somewhat larger. Lives in approximately the same regions as the white-headed one.
The kumai - a snow vulture - is similar to the griffon vulture both in appearance and in lifestyle. This is perhaps the largest of all scavengers. Its wingspan is more than three meters, it weighs 10 - 12 kilograms. Kumai lives high in the mountains of Central and Central Asia, in the Tien Shan and Pamirs, nests at an altitude of 2 - 2.5 thousand meters. The bird is now rare - listed in the Red Book.
The bearded vulture, unlike other vultures, has a feathered head and neck, the total body length is about 1 m, and its weight is up to 6.5 kg. This bird is widespread in the mountainous areas of Southern Europe, Eastern and Southern Africa, Western and Central Asia, at altitudes from about 1500 to 3000 m.
The smallest among the vultures are vultures. The brown vulture lives in tropical and subtropical Africa.
The famous Dutch researcher of animal behavior, Jane van Lavik-Goodall, observed a phenomenal phenomenon in East Africa - the ability of the brown vulture to use a tool to get food. Goodall watched the birds gathering around the abandoned ostrich clutch. They really wanted to feast on eggs, but neither vultures nor vultures could break the thick shell. And suddenly the observer saw how “the vulture took a stone in its beak, went to the egg and very accurately threw a stone at it with a strong movement of its head downward. Then he pecked at the shell, as if looking for a crack, picked up the stone again and threw it again. This time the bird missed, but the third shot was successful. Three minutes later, a direct blow to the egg cracked the shell. A few more strokes, and the vulture lowered its beak into the abundant nutritious yolk that flowed to the ground. Immediately three larger birds rushed forward and pushed aside the stone thrower. The three were joined by others, and soon the egg was buried under a mass of feathers. And the one who got the delicacy was already walking to another egg, holding his head high and holding a stone in his beak.
The common vulture is larger than the brown one, weighs 2 - 2.5 kilograms, and is more widespread. In addition to Africa, he lives in Southern Europe, Central and South Asia. In the USSR - in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
In biology, there is such a concept - convergence, or convergent similarity. (Sometimes they say - convergent evolution.) The essence of this concept is that different animals, having completely different ancestors, often living in very distant places from each other, due to certain circumstances lead a similar way of life. In the process of evolution, they developed common traits that were optimal for such a lifestyle, they became similar to each other. Therefore, American scavengers are very similar to scavengers of the Eastern Hemisphere - the same lifestyle has developed the same traits. But by origin, these birds have nothing to do with scavengers of the Old World. Therefore, they are allocated to a special family of American vultures, or vultures of the New World.
These include the urubu vulture, or black katarta (Coragyps atratus), and the turkey vulture (Сthartes aura). The most famous among them are the condor (Vultur gryphus) and the California condor (Gymnogyps califomianus).
The California condor is the largest (wingspan is more than three meters) and one of the rarest birds of prey. The plumage of the Californian condor is black, the head and neck are naked, red-orange, there is no ridge above the wax.
In the early 70s, there were only 60 - 70 individuals. Now there are perhaps even fewer of them. This bird was discovered in 1779, and by the end of the 18th century, the Californian condor had already become rare. But they continued to destroy him. Shepherds and pastoralists killed condors because they allegedly carried lambs and calves, although this was not true. They were hunted out of sporting interest, which was simply a crime. In museums alone, they counted almost 300 carcasses of condors - ten times more than the modern world population of the species as a whole!
Then the birds began to die from environmental pollution, from poisons that were used and are used to combat gophers; birds died, eating poisoned baits designed for wolves and coyotes. Of course, there were not so many condors in nature before. And condors breed every two years, raising one, rarely two chicks. They grow him for a long time - he is in the nest for seven months, and even the same number with his parents. And these birds begin to give birth late - only at the age of six.
To save him, a constant feeding of the birds has been organized today, and reproduction has begun in the zoo. Condor is included in the Red Book.
Another type of condor is slightly smaller - the wingspan is up to 2.75 meters, and they are more widespread - throughout South America in the Cordillera from Venezuela in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south. Like the Californian ones, they prefer to nest in the mountains, like the Californian ones, they feed mainly on carrion, like the Californian ones - these condors begin to nest at the age of six, not earlier. True, chicks develop faster, although also rather slowly.
In rainforests from Mexico to Argentina, you can find the royal condor, or the American royal vulture (Sarcorhamphus papa), which gets its name for its luxurious appearance. Common features of vultures: they soar magnificently, and they have such keen eyesight that they see the corpse of an animal even from a great height. Then the bird goes down with the "screw" and starts the meal. Seeing this, other vultures circling nearby flock, and now a whole flock gathers near the prey. The head of the vultures is almost naked so as not to get dirty while eating.
The Urubu vulture is also a typical New World vulture. It lives in the south of North America, Mexico, Central America, almost all of South America, including Argentina and Chile. Prefers open areas and around villages and towns. It flies to a height of up to 3000 m. The body length is 64 cm, the wingspan is up to 1.65 m. The plumage is black; during flight, light feathers are visible on the underside of the wings. The head is gray, without feathers, a gray beak, gray paws. Short, wide tail.
The griffin-urubu, unlike its relatives, does not plan, but soars, often flapping its wings. He searches for prey not only with the help of sight, but also by smell. Sometimes, sitting in a tree, he turns his head in different directions - sniffs, if he pulls carrion. In birds, as a rule, the sense of smell is poorly developed, but in this vulture it is excellent. It feeds on carrion, but sometimes also on young birds and small mammals, willingly rummages in garbage dumps.
It nests on rock ledges and in caves, as well as on the ground in thickets of bushes and grass. The female lays 1 - 3 bluish eggs with thick brown specks. Clutch in Central America from January to May.
Vulture-urubu
| The magnitude | Body length 64 cm, wingspan 1.45 m |
| Signs | The plumage is black; during flight, light feathers are visible on the underside of the wings; gray head without feathers, gray beak, gray paws; short, wide tail |
| Nutrition | Carrion, but sometimes young birds and small mammals; willingly rummages in garbage dumps |
| Reproduction | It nests on rock ledges and in caves, as well as on the ground in thickets of bushes and grass; 1-3 bluish eggs with dense brown specks; masonry in Central America from January to May |
| Habitat | In open areas and around villages and towns up to 3000 m height; southern North America, Mexico, Central America, almost all of South America, including Argentina and Chile |
Vultures make up a special group of diurnal birds of prey, consisting of three families. These are large birds (to which the largest of the predators belong) with a naked or covered with fluff or downy feathers of the annual and upper part of the neck, with a long beak bent only at the top and devoid of teeth, with very large rounded wings, rather strong legs, with blunt and slightly bent claws, feeding mainly on carrion, as well as other rotting animal substances.
For many, the neck is surrounded by a collar of long feathers. They are found in all parts of the world except Australia: they fly very hardy, although not as fast and dexterously as falconies; some of them rise to tremendous heights; so Humboldt observed a condor at an altitude of almost 7000 m above sea level. m. The vultures look for their prey with the help of sight, flying at high altitudes; the notion that they are guided by the sense of smell is groundless.
Large species feed almost exclusively on carrion, rarely attack small animals; small; in addition to carrion, they feed on feces, as well as small animals. They are found in hot and partly temperate countries and benefit from the extermination of sewage, which is why some species are protected by humans; so in Cairo the punishment for the murder is imposed vulture (Neophron perenopterus) and in ancient Egypt this bird was sacred.
They are often found in herds, nest on rocks or trees, and where they are not touched - on buildings; they lay mostly 1-2 eggs and feed the chicks with semi-digested carrion, belched out from the goiter.
This includes 11 genera with 21 species (in 1883). Vultures are divided into three families: 1) Vultures of the New World (Cathartidae) with nasal openings without a septum, with a beak narrowed towards the end of the wax and a tail of 12 tail feathers. Comb vultures (Sarcorhamphus) with fleshy ridges at the base of the beak and on the forehead.
Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) black with a white collar and spots on the wings, with a red bare neck, up to 102 cm long, and up to 2.75 m wide with outstretched wings; found on the high mountains of South America from Quito to 45 ° S. NS.; feeds on the corpses of large animals, but also attacks sheep, etc.
California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), close to South American, is found in the mountains of California.
Royal vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) white and pink-white, except for black flight and tail feathers and painted with red and yellow head and neck, about 90 cm long, found in the wooded countries of South America from 32 ° S. NS. to Mexico and Texas. Cathartes without fleshy outgrowths.
Vulture-urubu (Coragyps atratus), black-brown color with a metallic sheen and a red head and neck, 78 cm long and gallinazo (Coragyps atratus), black with a brownish tinge and gray head and neck, 60 cm long, distributed throughout America. 2 families.
Vultures of the Old World (Vulturidae), with noses separated by a septum and a tail of 14 tail feathers. Sip(Vultur) with transverse holes, naked or partially covered with fluff neck with a collar of long feathers.
Vulture gray (Vultur cinereus)- dark brown in color with a gray neck and wax, colored blue and purple; up to 116 cm long; found in southern Europe, Asia, North Africa, in our Urals and in Asian possessions; flies into Germany.
Brown vulture (Vultur fulvus), brown, 112 cm long, found in southern Europe, west. Asia and sowing. Africa, we also come across.
Vulture (Neophron) with a very long and rather thin beak, longitudinal nasal openings and a bare front part of the head and throat.
Egyptian, or sacred vulture (Neophron percnopterus)- off-white color with a yellowish tinge, black flight feathers and yellow bare parts of the head and neck, up to 75 cm long; found in southern Europe, western and southern Asia and almost all of Africa; we find it in southern Russia, it feeds mainly on human feces, as well as carrion. In the cities and villages of Africa lives in large numbers.
Third family of lambs (Gypaetidae) contains one kind bearded man (Gypaetus barbatus) making up the transition from vulture to falcons. It is distinguished by a long, slightly swollen beak and a feathered head and neck. The body and tail are elongated; the lamb reaches 115 cm and 2.67 m in wings and is the largest bird of prey in the Old World. The color above is black with white spots, below it is rusty yellow. The lamb is found in the mountains of southern Europe, Asia and Africa; feeds on carrion and young animals.
Brockhaus F.A., Efron I.A. encyclopedic Dictionary
Distributed in South Asia, in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam. Inhabits open areas, agricultural lands, semi-deserts, also occurs in deciduous forests, foothills and river valleys. It keeps up to 3000 m above sea level.
The body length is 75-85 cm, the wingspan is 2-2.6 m, the weight is 4-5.5 kg. The plumage is dark brown. On a head free from feathers, hanging skin folds of bright red color.
Leads a solitary lifestyle. Nests are relatively small, with leaves and debris in the lining. In clutch there is 1 white or light greenish egg. It feeds on carrion.
Black vulture
Cinereous vulture
(Aegypius monachus)
It is a sedentary bird of mountains and foothills, nesting in Southern Europe, North Africa, Anterior, Central and Central Asia, where it is relatively numerous; in small numbers - in the South-East Altai.
The total body length is 75-100 cm, wing length 72-85 cm, wingspan 2.5-3 m, weight 7-12 kg. The dress on the black vulture is dark brown, occasionally on the body there are individual white feathers. Flight and tibia feathers are darker in comparison with the main color. There are no feathers on the head, it is only slightly covered with down, which makes it easier for vultures to take care of themselves. In the middle part of the neck there is a collar consisting of feathers that are sloppily sticking out in different directions.
High rocky mountains are a favorite habitat for black vultures, although they can settle on plains if they have fallen enough there. Meet singly or in pairs. With an abundance of food, they can gather for feeding in small groups of 12-20 individuals. Black vultures feed on carrion of any type: from large mammals (yaks, rams, gazelles, deer) to marmots, rabbits, hares, fish and reptiles. Occasionally they attack live prey: young mammals and chicks of large birds. In search of food, they cover huge distances every day, skillfully using the ascending currents of heated air for soaring flight.
The breeding season runs from February to October. Reproduction starts from 5-6 years old. Mating games of partners take place in the air. At the same time, the birds demonstrate to each other mind-blowing tricks, turning over in the air and even flying upside down. Usually one pair has not one, but several nests at once, which they repair annually. Their constructions are so reliable that they can be used for a long time. Partners each year line a new layer of the nest, and the old, lower branches rot and fall off. Therefore, their home always looks like new. Nests are placed in trees, occasionally on rocks. In clutch there are 1-2 white or beige eggs with reddish-brown markings, which hatch by male and female for 55 days. Chicks are born helpless and completely dependent on their parents. They stay in the nest for 3-3.5 months and stay close to their parental home for about one and a half months. In the wild, this vulture can live up to 39 years.
African eared vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
(Torgos tracheliotos)
Distributed throughout North Africa from the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea. In addition, their habitat covers the Arabian Peninsula and stretches to the south of Africa along the Indian Ocean. Inhabits savannas, arid plains, deserts, open mountain slopes. Prefers open areas with sparse trees and minimal grass cover. They keep at an altitude of 4500 m above sea level.
One of the largest vultures. Body length 105-110 cm, wingspan up to 3 meters; weight - 10-14 kg. The female is somewhat larger than the male. The plumage is mostly dark brown. There is a white stripe behind the front edge of the underwings. The tail is wedge-shaped, black. The beak is black; dark eyes. A feature of eared vultures is a "bald" head without feathers and fluff. The skin on the front and top of the head is light orange. The legs are bluish gray. On the sides of the neck, on each side, there is a large skin lobe that vaguely resembles an ear.
African eared vultures feed on the corpses of large animals. However, they never fly up to the carcass first, on the contrary, they sit in the distance and wait 15-20 minutes for the smaller vultures to eat the soft parts of the carcass. Then they quickly burst into the crowd of competitors, driving them away, and calmly saturate, tearing the strong skin of the victim with their powerful beak. Sometimes, in search of prey, they fly into villages or urban slaughterhouses. Also, these vultures attack live animals, especially young and weak ones. From time to time they ravage flamingo settlements, eating their chicks and breaking eggs. Hungry eared vultures are capable of attacking adult flamingos.
African eared vultures lead a solitary lifestyle, although up to 50 individuals can gather near a large carcass. In the north of the range, the breeding season lasts from November to July, in the east it reproduces all year round, in the south - from May to January. Breeds in separate pairs. The nest of the newlyweds looks like a huge platform, about three meters in diameter and up to one meter high. The nest is located at a height of 5 to 15 meters. Birds build it on top of a tree from dry twigs, lining the bottom with dry and soft grass. It is on this litter that a single white egg with spots is laid, which is incubated by both parents for 54-56 days. Chicks fledge in 124-135 days. They begin to reproduce at the age of about 6 years.
Griffon vulture
White-headed Vulture
(Trigonoceps occipitalis)
Distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. Inhabits savannahs.
Body length is 75-80 cm, wing length - 60-65 cm, weight - 3-5 kg. Almost all plumage is brown, with the exception of the head, goiter, lower part of the wings and belly, which are decorated with white feathers. The beak color of the griffon vulture is also unusual: it is blue at the base and bright red at the end. Like all birds of prey, its tip is bent downward, making it easy to tear apart prey.
Unlike most vultures in Africa, man avoids villages. It feeds on carrion, chicks, lizards, insects and sick animals. It flies out for prey at dawn. Circles high and smoothly in the sky, sometimes rising up to 1.6 km. With the help of his keen eyes, he looks out for a suitable carrion and swiftly descends. He does not observe other vultures, but prefers to seek food on his own. The food of the griffon vulture is sometimes badly spoiled. Any other creature would immediately die of toxins after eating rotting flesh, but these members of the hawk family have a fairly strong stomach. Its gastric juice is very acidic, which allows it to digest bones and kills all dead bacteria. The disinfection process continues in the intestines of the bird, where special symbiotic bacteria cleanse the food of bacterial toxins.
It builds a huge nest of thin twigs on the tops of single trees. Stick these bars singly or in pairs. The clutch usually contains one white egg. Both parents feed the baby with food brought in a capacious goiter.
African vulture
White-backed vulture
(Gyps africanus)
The African vulture is a widespread and frequent bird found in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The usual habitats are savannas, plains and sparse wooded areas. It can also be found in swampy areas, shrubs and thin forests near rivers. Birds can often be seen sitting in trees. African vultures avoid dense forests. They live nearby with large mammals, herds of ungulates, near a ranch with cattle and near nomadic shepherds. Birds keep away from cities and large villages. They predominantly live up to 1500 m above sea level, but some birds have been found at 3000 m in Kenya and 3500 m in Ethiopia.
The body length is 78-98 cm, the wingspan is 1.9-2.2 m, the weight is 4.2-7.2 kg. In adult birds, the wing coverts are colored in a shade from light yellow-brown to ocher (in older birds, especially in males, cream-white), the flight feathers of the wings and the tail are black-brown. A pure white down collar at the base of the neck, white lower back and rump (which are usually covered with folded wings). The scalp is black, the neck is also, but it can be partially feathered (mainly in young birds), a minimum of feathers on the front side of the head. The eyes are dark brown. Paws are black. Two small bald spots on the sides of the basal neck are brown and usually hidden. Young birds have a brown collar on the neck, everything is thinly streaked with white stripes, including the brown rump, which makes the bird speckled. The scalp is greenish black. The neck is covered with former down. Birds are usually silent. Their voices can be heard when the carcass is being carved, while the dominant birds hiss, and the rest - emit squeals, similar to no pigs, or chirp in a peculiar way. An African vulture makes hoarse sounds near the nest.
African vultures are sedentary or nomadic. In search of food, adult birds are able to fly over vast territories per day. Movements to a new place occur due to the migration of herds of ungulates, less often - when a sufficient number of falls are found or because of the rains that have begun. This is a typical scavenger. It feeds on the corpses of mammals, mainly ungulates. In search of food, the African vulture rises on updrafts to a height of 200-500 m. It always watches other scavengers, as well as hyenas, which can lead it to its goal. From ten to hundreds of birds can eat the carcass of a fallen animal. The vultures will gnaw the corpse of the impala antelope in 10 minutes. One individual can eat up to 1 kg of meat. The bird is not able to pierce through thick skin, but its head and long neck are adapted to smooth deeply located organs, including those protected by ribs.
Usually African vultures form small groups of 5-20 pairs. But there are both lonely individuals and individuals living in separate pairs, and very numerous colonies. Birds settle on several nearby trees. Can build nests on one tree - up to 5 nests. In flight, you can see individual individuals circling around the nesting area, pairs or flocks of 10-12 birds. Sometimes a bird can fly with an extended neck or legs down.
The breeding season lasts throughout the year, but peak activity occurs in October - June in West Africa and Somalia and April - December in southern East Africa and South Africa. The nest is built from twigs and is lined with grass and green leaves. The nest is 34-100 cm in diameter and 10-90 cm deep, and is located in the crown of a tree at a height of 5-50 m. Usually there is 1 egg in a clutch, but sometimes there may be 2 or 3. The incubation period lasts 56- 58 days. The chick stays in the nest for 120-130 days. Chicks fully fledge at 10-12 months, and their adult plumage color appears at 6-7 years.
Bengal vulture
White-rumped vulture
(Gyps bengalensis)
Distributed in South Asia, in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam. It appears to be extinct in Bangladesh, Malaysia and China.
The body length is 75-93 cm, the wingspan is 2-2.6 m, the weight is 3.5-7.5 kg. The overall coloration is black with a white back and down collar. The head and neck are pinkish, the beak is silvery.
It feeds exclusively on carrion. Looks out for food in high flight or watching the congestion of other scavengers. Seeing the corpse of an animal, he does not immediately start eating, but waits for some time on a nearby tree. Bengal vultures often gather in flocks during feeding. In areas where there are bodies of water, these vultures often bathe and drink water. It is most active in the daytime, when the sun has warmed up the air sufficiently.
The nesting period lasts from November to March. They nest in groups or in colonies on trees in cities and towns, groves and parks, near rivers and lakes. Nests are loose, sometimes from green branches, lined with manure, wool, leaves, debris. In clutch there is 1 white egg with weak spotting. Incubation lasts 45-50 days, the young one flies out after 3 months.
Distributed in southwestern South Africa, however, cases of the appearance of Cape vultures have been recorded in Lesotho and Botswana, up to Zimbabwe. The total number does not exceed 10 thousand individuals.
The total body length is 96-115 cm, the wingspan is 2.26-2.6 m, the body weight is 7-11 kg.
Like other vultures, it is a typical scavenger.
Breeds in large colonies in rocky areas. The breeding season lasts all year round, although eggs are usually laid from February to August. The nest is a platform of twigs lined with dry grass. The clutch contains one egg, which incubates for 56 days. The chick can stay in the nest for up to 4 months.
Griffon vulture
Griffon vulture
(Gyps fulvus)
Breeds in Southern Europe, North and North-East Africa and Asia. In Eurasia, it is distributed west of the mountains of Central Asia - the Saur and Tarbagatai ranges in Kazakhstan, the Eastern Tien Shan in Kyrgyzstan, the Western Pamir in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the southern slopes of the Himalayas to Bhutan and the Indian state of Assam. Outside the mainland, it is found on the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus. In Africa, it lives in the northwest in the coastal zone of Morocco and Tunisia, as well as in the northeast along the Red Sea. A resident bird, however, outside the breeding season, it can migrate far beyond the nesting area. Inhabits dry, open areas with elevations, from where it is convenient for birds to take off. It is common in the mountains at an altitude of up to 3000 m, and in search of food and up to 3500 m above sea level, where it follows flocks of sheep and other ungulates. In the Caucasus, in Armenia, it rises to 2750 m above sea level. Less commonly found on the plains in the steppe, semi-desert and desert, where it chooses hills - rocks, cliffs or hills.
A very large vulture with long, wide wings and a wide tail. The body length is 93-110 cm, the wingspan is 2.3-2.7 m, the body weight is from 6.2 to 11.3 kg, and the female is somewhat larger than the male. The appearance is typical for vultures - a disproportionately small head covered with white fluff, an elongated hooked beak, a long neck with a collar of elongated feathers, a short rounded tail. The general color of the body is brown, somewhat lighter with a reddish tint underneath. Flight and tail feathers are dark brown, almost black. Eyes yellowish-brown, greyish wax, dark gray legs. In color, males and females do not differ from each other. The plumage of young birds is paler and monotonous reddish-brown.
This is a hovering bird, from a flat surface with difficulty rising into the air. In the air, it draws in its neck, lowers its head and widely spreads the primary flight feathers (they look like "fingers in a fan"). Wing flaps are rare, slow and deep. It screams quite rarely, although it is considered a more talkative bird in comparison with other vultures. Voice - a variety of hissing and hoarse croaking sounds, emitted mainly when prey is found or on vacation. Usually found in groups.
It feeds exclusively on carrion - the corpses of dead animals, mainly mammals. It searches for prey with the help of sight (not smell, like in American vultures), often focusing on other scavengers. Can go without food for a long time.
As a rule, it nests in small groups of up to 20 pairs. Griffon vultures are monogamous, couples persist throughout life. The nest, made of twigs and lined with twigs and stalks of grasses from the inside, is located on the ground and is always hidden in hard-to-reach rocky recesses or in niches of steep cliffs. It is usually found in close proximity to herds of breeding ungulates. The diameter of the nest is 1-2.5 m, the height is 20-70 cm, if possible it is used for several years in a row. The breeding season begins very early - according to observations in Spain, already in January the birds are engaged in arranging the nest, and in February-March clutches appear. During the mating season, the couple sticks together, performing synchronized movements in the air. Before mating, the male behaves demonstratively - he walks in front of the female, bending over, raising his tail and half spreading his wings. In a clutch, one (rarely two) white eggs, sometimes with brownish streaks. Egg size (82.2-105.5) x (64-74.7) mm. Both parents incubate for 47-57 days. The incubation is very dense - while one bird is in the nest, the second is looking for food. During the shift of duty, the egg is carefully turned over. The chick is always alone, when it is born, it is covered with white down, which after about a month is replaced by a second, ocher-white. It is fed by the belching of the parents. The ability to fly appears rather late - at the age of 3-4 months, however, even after that, the chick needs feeding from its parents. He acquires full independence in at least 3 more months. Sexual maturity in young birds occurs in 4-7 years. Life expectancy reaches 40 years.
Snow vulture
Himalayan vulture
(Gyps himalayensis)
Distributed from the Tien Shan and Pamirs in the west to Nan Shan, Gansu, Tibet in the east; Himalayas (as far as western Assam) in the south. Snow vulture nests in the highlands from 2000 to 5200 m above sea level, in the subalpine and alpine zones, above the upper border of the forest. A sedentary bird, making vertical seasonal migrations, descending lower in winter.
It is a large bird. Weight - 8-12 kg, body length - 116-150 cm, wingspan up to 3 m. In color it is similar to the griffon vulture, a subspecies of which was previously considered. But lighter than the latter, the light collar is not down, but feather. The beak is yellowish-horny, the eyes are pale-brown or yellowish, the legs are grayish-white, the claws are black. There are no external signs of sexual dimorphism. Younger birds are darker.
Like other vultures, it feeds on carrion. It flies out for feeding relatively late, when ascending jets of air flow from the heated surface of the earth and the fog dissipates. On foraging departures in flocks sometimes dozens of individuals are found. A massive accumulation of snow vultures and other vultures in the Tien Shan and Pamirs occurs during the jute, when not only livestock but also argali die. In Tibet, where in some places human corpses are left open for a kind of funeral, the snow vulture feeds on them too. Like other vultures, the snow vulture in the carrion makes a hole in the belly and devours the insides first, then sometimes twisting the skin. The bird is extremely voracious; In Tibet, several vultures eat a human corpse in half an hour, and eat a yak corpse to the skeleton in 2 hours. Seeing a carrion, it descends on it with half-folded wings, with a characteristic rattling noise. The carrion is very aggressive, dispersing all other birds, including the bearded ones. Having eaten, or flies away, or runs back to the nearest hills, where he then rests for a long time. In search of food, it soars very high, the main mode of movement is soaring.
Very early mating occurs at the end of January - at this time the gonads are already strongly developed in birds. In the Himalayas, the breeding season lasts from January to March. Breeds in separate pairs or in small colonies of 4-5 pairs. The nests are located in niches or on cliffs and have been used for many years in a row. Clutch occurs in February, with one greenish-white egg, occasionally with brownish specks. The incubation period lasts 54-58 days. In early July, juveniles already fledge, but their wings and tail are still short, fledglings occur in early August. The nesting period therefore lasts about 6.5-7 months.
Indian vulture
Indian vulture
(Gyps indicus)
Distributed in western India and southeast Pakistan. Inhabits rocky areas.
Has a typical vulture appearance. The weight of the bird is 5.5-6.3 kg, the body length is 80-100 cm, the wingspan is 2-2.3 m.
It nests mainly on rocky cliffs, but occasionally builds nests in trees. The Indian vulture is a typical scavenger, eating mainly the carcasses of ungulate mammals. In search of food, it often moves in flocks.
Thin-billed vulture
Slender-billed Vulture
(Gyps tenuirostris)
Distributed in northeastern India, northern and central Bangladesh, southern Nepal, Myanmar and Cambodia.
This is a medium-sized vulture, the body length is 80-95 cm. The general color is grayish, the thighs are covered with white down, the head and neck are black.
It nests in trees, unlike the Indian Vulture.
Rüppel's neck
Rüppell "s Vulture
(Gyps rueppellii)
Distributed in northern Africa. It lives in the savannas of the so-called Sahel zone, which is a kind of transition between the Sahara in the north and more fertile lands in the south.
Rüppel's neck has a very distinctive look. The dark wings are speckled with small light spots. Similar spots are scattered over the chest and belly of the bird, the spots create a kind of scaly pattern. The head and neck are covered with off-white down, the base of the neck has a white collar, and the eyes are yellow. The body length is 85-103 cm, the wingspan is 2.2-2.6 m, the weight is 6.4-9 kg.
This is one of the highest flying birds. There is a known case of a collision of a bird with an aircraft at an altitude of 11277 m.The average flight altitude is about 6000 m.The flight at the Rüppel neck is relatively slow, soars at a speed of 35 km / h, but can fly 6-7 hours a day for a distance of more than 150 km in search food. It feeds on carrion. First, it eats the soft parts of the carcass, then the skin and even bones. A rough tongue allows you to cleanse bones of meat. Very gluttonous. Usually gorges to such an extent that he can barely fly.
They nest in groups on rock ledges. They form colonies, which usually consist of 10 to 1000 nests. Couples form for life. In a nest, roughly made from large sticks, the female lays 1-2 eggs, which are taken care of by both parents.
Brown vulture
Hooded vulture
(Necrosyrtes monachus)
Widely distributed in most countries of Central and South Africa. It is found in savannas, wooded deserts, on the edges of forests and meadows, along river banks, often in settlements. It keeps at an altitude of 4000 m above sea level, but it is most numerous at an altitude of 1800 m.
The body length is 60-65 cm, the wingspan is 155-165 cm, the weight is 1.5-2.6 kg. The wings are very wide, the tail is short. The color is monochromatic, brown. The head is pale pink and has a hood of grayish down.
It feeds mainly on carrion and all kinds of garbage, as well as insects. In search of food, it often gathers in rather large flocks. Brown vultures are not afraid of humans and often look for food near human habitation, in landfills and garbage heaps.
Vultures can form fairly large colonies. In West Africa it breeds all year round, in Northeast Africa the breeding season lasts from October to June, in South Africa from May to December. Nests in trees. The tray is lined with rubbish and green leaves. In clutch there is 1 white egg with spots. The incubation period lasts 46-54 days. The chicks have plumage after 80-130 days, but the chicks remain with their parents for another 3-4 months.
Common vulture
Egyptian Vulture
(Neophron percnopterus)
It is found throughout Africa, as well as in the temperate latitudes of Europe and Asia, primarily in the Mediterranean region and in India. There are populations in the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands. In the north of the nesting area, the vulture is a migratory bird. It prefers to swim in the mountains and foothills, among the arid landscape.
The plumage of the vulture is white with long black feathers along the edges of the wings, which is especially noticeable in flight. In the throat area, the feathers have a yellowish tint. The head of the vulture is bald, with folds, and bright yellow, sometimes even orange skin. The base of the beak is of the same color, the end of which, however, is black. The iris is reddish brown and the tail is wedge-shaped. In juveniles, the plumage is initially yellow-brown and slightly mottled. It gets whiter as it gets older. The face of the young, not covered with feathers, is gray, the iris is black. Adults reach a size of 60 to 70 cm and a weight of 1.5 to 2.2 kg. The wingspan is 165 cm.
Vultures are highly social animals and live in small groups. In the savannas, they are often found only in pairs. In carrion, they are in most cases the last to get any pieces. It feeds mainly on carrion and garbage, as well as on vertebrate excrement and live prey - reptiles, in particular turtles, small mammals, from plant food - dates. In some places they search landfills to find something edible, sometimes they take with them the remains of human food. Vultures are absolutely not afraid of human proximity and in some African villages they often sit on the roofs of huts or on trees growing in the middle of the villages.
One of the features of this bird is the way it eats the contents of ostrich eggs. To break the hard shell, vultures use stones weighing up to 500 g. They sometimes find these stones quite far from ostrich nests and fly with a stone in their beak to the nest. After that, they start throwing a stone at the egg until it breaks. After several unsuccessful attempts with a rock that is too light, the vultures arrive with a new, heavier one. Vultures eat the liquid contents of an egg or an already developed embryo right on the spot.
It nests on rocks, on the slopes of clay hills, in the ruins of human structures, sometimes in trees. They also like to nest under rock canopies that protect them from precipitation. The nests are rather large in relation to the size of the vultures and make a chaotic impression, especially since the vultures willingly weave garbage left by man between the branches that serve as building material for them. You can often see bones, paper, rope fibers in the nest. The bottom of the nest is lined by vultures with soft materials and animal hair. The remnants of food, mainly carrion, lie in the nest until they completely rot. The laid two eggs with several brown spots are incubated by both parents for 42 days. After 80 days after birth, young chicks begin to fly.
Palm vulture
Palm-nut Vulture
(Gypohierax angolensis)
Distributed in tropical Africa near water bodies, both near the sea coast and near rivers. It is most often found where palm trees are abundant, especially the oil palm, or Guinea palm, the fruits of which constitute an essential nutrient for the palm vulture.
It is a large bird, with a total length of 50-60 cm, a wingspan of about 150 cm and a weight of 1.3-1.8 kg. Coloring is white with black wings and back. Young birds are brown.
The diet is based on the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm and raffia palm, which is unusual for birds of prey. Plant food makes up 58-65% of his diet. They also eat carrion, marine waste, crabs, molluscs, small fish, small mammals, and sometimes they even extract larvae of insects from the bark.
A resident bird. These vultures are held in pairs. Nests are built from large branches high in the trees. Breeds in dry seasons. In clutch there is only 1 white egg, heavily mottled with brown markings. I incubate both parents for 85-90 days.
Bearded man
Bearded vulture
(Gypaetus barbatus)
Distributed in Southern Europe, Eastern and Southern Africa, Anterior and Central Asia. The bearded vulture was successfully reintroduced in the Alps, but remains the rarest bird of prey in Europe. Inhabits rocks and open mountain areas at altitudes from about 1500 to 3000 m above sea level, sometimes even higher (in the Himalayas, it is noted at altitudes of over 7000 m). A resident bird not found in the plains.
The total body length is 95-125 cm, weight - 4.5-7.5 kg, wing length - 75-80 cm, wingspan - 275-308 cm.In an adult bird, the head, neck and abdominal side are light, from whitish to bright red color; a black spot near the eyes and on the frenum; under the beak, a tuft of black hair-like feathers forming a beard; the dorsal side is silvery-brown, with white feather trunks. The iris in adult birds is whitish or yellowish with a red border, in young birds it is brown. The bill is bluish-gray, the legs are gray. The tail is long, wedge-shaped. Produces a low whistle and a peculiar meowing sound.
The bearded man feeds mainly on carrion, to a large extent on bones, which are perfectly digested in his stomach. The bearded man also attacks sick and weak animals, does not neglect fresh carrion. Catches turtles, the shell of which breaks, throwing them from a height on stones.
Breeds from mid-December to mid-February. The nesting site is several km 2. A large nest is located in rock crevices or caves, usually at an altitude of 2000-3000 m; It is made of twigs, slightly covered with dry grass. In clutch there are usually 2 whitish eggs with brown spots, but, as a rule, only one chick develops and grows. The female incubates mainly for 53-58 days. The chick's food consists mainly of bones up to 20 cm long. The parents drop the bones on neighboring rocks to split them, and then transfer them piece by piece to the nest. The chick stays in the nest for 106-130 days. Life expectancy in captivity is up to 40 years.
