Griffon Vultures
Birds of Prey
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The Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.
It breeds on crags in mountains in southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia, laying one egg. Griffons may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Griffon Vultures have been re-introduced successfully into the Massif Central in France. In Italy, the species survived only in Sardinia, but was re-introduced in a few other areas of the peninsula. As a result, several specimens been spotted again in August 2006 on the Gran Sasso massif (central Italy). A colony of Griffon vultures can also be found near the town of Beli on the island of Cres in Croatia. Because of this, the Griffon vulture has the most subspecies of any vulture.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas. It often moves in flocks.
The Griffon is 95-110 cm long with a 230-265 cm wingspan. It is a typical vulture in appearance, with a white bald head, very broad wings and a short tail. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers.
This vulture grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on dead animals.
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Relevant Web Resources: vultures.homestead.com
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