Monday, 8 June 2015

Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)

OTHER NAMES: Griffon Vulture 
Latin Etymology: Gyps ("vulture") fulvus ("tawny or brown")
Five Eurasian Griffon Vultures (subspecies G. f. fulvusat Monfrague National Park, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Gyps fulvus fulvus
Weight: 6.5-10.5kg  /  Length: 93-122cm  /  Wingspan: 280cm
ABSENT FROM UK IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Eurasian Griffon is a massive typical vulture with a massive 2.8m wingspan - bigger even than the largest eagles in Europe, yet not the biggest vulture by a good margin.  It has a vast range - spreading from Spain to the Himalayas but it's range is patchy due to appropriate habitat and food sources.  It suffered a bit in the EU due to certain legislation preventing leaving dead animals out in the open as had traditionally been done, but it has subsequently been amended to make allowances.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Subspecies: G. g. fulvus, G. f. fulvescens

 - Sighting Locations -
SPAIN - Spanish - Buitre comĂșn ("Common Vulture")
Widespread and locally common resident.
 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common on farmland North of Madrid and around Patones and two above Toledo 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant in El Pardo and Monfrague National Park 

Further Notes: BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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