The Griffon Vulture or Eurasian Griffon
Vulture is a large bulky vulture resident
from Southern Europe across to
South-West Asia. It is a typical Old World
vulture in appearance, with a white bald
head, very broad wings and short tail
feathers. It has a white neck ruff and
dark bill. The buff body and wing coverts
contrast with the dark flight feathers.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger,
feeding mostly from carcasses of dead
animals which it finds by soaring over
open areas. At each feeding it will gorge
itself, eating as much as possible as fast
as possible and can consume upto 5kg of
carrion. Griffon Vultures nests in the
hollows of rocks, on cliff ledges or in
caves, usually in colonies. A single egg
is incubated for upto 54 days.
The female will rarely leave the nest
until her young has taken flight at
between 110-115 days. The male vulture
provides food for all of them.
