Photo: Jan Reurink from Netherlands / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Himalayan Vulture
Gyps himalayensis
Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 9.8 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 Gyps
- Species himalayensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.8 kg
- Diet
- Scavengers
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Endangered
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Himalayan Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Himalayan Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 9.8 kg, with a wing length of about 76 cm and a tail of around 33.9 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 3.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Himalayan Vulture?
The Himalayan Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 9.8 kg.
Where does the Himalayan Vulture live?
The Himalayan Vulture is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Himalayan Vulture belong to?
The Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Himalayan Vulture eat?
The Himalayan Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.
Does the Himalayan Vulture migrate?
The Himalayan Vulture is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Himalayan 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 Himalayan Vulture make?
1 real field recording of the Himalayan 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 Himalayan Vulture's range?
The Himalayan Vulture has a mapped global range of about 3.9 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.