OTHER NAMES: Monk Vulture, Cinereous Vulture
Latin Etymology: Aegypius ("Vulture") monachus ("monk" ie hooded)
Adult Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016
Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 6-13kg / Length: 98-120cm / Wingspan: 2.5-3.1m
ABSENT FROM UK / Red List: Near Threatened
The Eurasian Black Vulture (or whichever name you choose to call it by) is a very impressive bird by a lot of metrics - it's enormous for a start - larger than any raptor in the Old World and only exceeded by the Condors in the new. As such, it has the only wingspan of any bird I have seen thus far to exceed 3 metres, and is in the region of the top 10 for both heaviest and largest wingspan of all flying birds. Not only that, but they have been recorded flying at spectacular heights of nearly 7 miles - one of the highest flying of all birds. Their European stronghold is in Spain, but the bulk of their range is Central Asia.
Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aegypius
Subspecies: None - monotypic
- Sighting Locations -
- MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen around bundant at Valdetorres Del Jarama and Patones
- MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen at each of El Pardo and Monfrague National Park.
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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