Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 5.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Gypaetus
- Species barbatus
Where it lives
Northern, eastern, southern AF; central, southwestern Asia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.7 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bearded Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Bearded Vulture is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL n, e, s AF; c, sw Asia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.7 kg, with a wing length of about 76.1 cm and a tail of around 46.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bearded Vulture?
The Bearded Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 5.7 kg.
Where does the Bearded Vulture live?
The Bearded Vulture is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL n, e, s AF; c, sw Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Bearded Vulture belong to?
The Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Bearded Vulture eat?
The Bearded Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Bearded Vulture migrate?
The Bearded Vulture is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Bearded Vulture endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Bearded Vulture make?
1 real field recording of the Bearded Vulture — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bearded Vulture's range?
The Bearded Vulture has a mapped global range of about 8.4 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.