Bearded Vulture

The Bearded Vulture, also known as the Lammergeier, is a distinctive raptor of high mountain ranges across Europe, Africa, and Asia, including the Alps, Pyrenees, Himalaya, and East African highlands. Its silhouette, with long narrow wings and an unusually long, wedge-shaped tail, is unlike that of any other vulture.

Its underparts vary from pale creamy white to a deep rusty-orange, a color that is thought to come partly from deliberately bathing in iron-oxide-rich mud and dust, while the wings and tail are dark gray to blackish.

A tuft of black bristly feathers beneath the bill gives the species its common name, and combined with the elongated diamond-shaped tail, makes its feathers fairly distinctive once the shape is recognized.

Shape and Size

Wings are long and narrow compared to other vultures, and the tail is unusually long and wedge-shaped, tapering to a point; this combination gives a falcon-like or eagle-like silhouette rather than the broad-winged look of most vultures.

Color and Pattern

• Underparts and head feathers: creamy white to deep rusty-orange, variable between individuals
• Upperparts, wings, and tail feathers: dark slate-gray to blackish, often with paler shaft streaks
• Chin/throat bristle feathers: black, forming the "beard"
• Shafts: pale on light feathers, dark on the gray-black feathers

Distinguishing from Similar Species

The long, narrow, pointed wing feathers combined with an elongated wedge-shaped tail feather are distinctive from the broader wings and shorter, more squared tails of Griffon or Cinereous Vultures. The variable rusty-orange staining on underpart feathers is also a useful, though not universal, clue.

Adults show creamy white to rusty-orange underparts and head, with dark gray-black upperparts, wings, and tail, and a black facial bristle "beard"; sexes look alike. Juveniles are largely dark brown-black overall, gradually acquiring the pale head and underparts over five to seven years to reach full adult plumage.

Molt is slow, consistent with the long maturation period and large flight feather size typical of this species.

Found in high mountain ranges including the Alps, Pyrenees, Caucasus, Himalaya, and mountains of East and southern Africa, typically foraging over rugged, high-elevation terrain with cliffs for nesting.

Most populations are resident, remaining within or near their mountain ranges year-round, though individuals may range widely while foraging.

Feeds largely on bone marrow, often dropping large bones from height onto rocks to break them open before swallowing the fragments, a very specialized feeding strategy among vultures. Also takes some carrion flesh.

Nests on remote cliff ledges. Generally quiet, with occasional whistling calls near the nest.

A long, narrow dark gray-black flight feather or an elongated wedge-shaped tail feather, especially with rusty-orange underpart feathers nearby, found in high mountain terrain, points to this species.