Photo: Markel Olano, goierritarra1 / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 7.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Gyps
- Species fulvus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.4 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Griffon Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Griffon Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL n AF, sw PAL, also n India.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 7.4 kg, with a wing length of about 68.7 cm and a tail of around 29.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Griffon Vulture?
The Griffon Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 7.4 kg.
Where does the Griffon Vulture live?
The Griffon Vulture is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL n AF, sw PAL, also n India, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Griffon Vulture belong to?
The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Griffon Vulture eat?
The Griffon Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Griffon Vulture migrate?
The Griffon Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Griffon Vulture endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Griffon Vulture make?
1 real field recording of the Griffon Vulture — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Griffon Vulture's range?
The Griffon Vulture has a mapped global range of about 3.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.