Griffon vulture, buitre leonado

Description:

The Griffon Vulture is 93–110 cm long with a 2.3–2.8 m wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh 6.2 to 10.5 kg and females typically weigh 6.5 to 11.3 kg. It is a typical Old World vulture in appearance, with a very white head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers. Like other vultures, it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas, often moving in flocks. It grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on carrion. The maximum lifespan recorded for the Griffon Vulture is 41.4 years, for a specimen in captivity.

Habitat:

It breeds on crags in mountains in southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia, laying one egg. Griffon Vultures may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. At La Pedriza, Parque Regional de la Cuenca Altal del Manzanares, Sierra de Guadarrama.

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/250 sec.; f/8; ISO Speed Rating: 400. Exposure Bias: +2 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm.