pale brown plumage; bare head; large bill (Spain; 2006-06-04)
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Native Range: Eurasia and Africa
Notes:
the only large pale-colored vulture; nests and roosts on cliff ledges; ranks higher than Egyptian Vultureat a carcass, but in turn is dominated by Cinereous Vulture.
ventral view; long broad wings; slotted primaries (Spain; 2006-06-04)
soars great distances in search of carrion (Spain; 2006-06-04)
dorsal view; note ruff of feathers around neck (Spain; 2006-06-04)
primaries and secondaries darker than back, forewing (Spain; 2006-06-04)
head is held lower than body in flight, with kinked neck (Spain; 2006-06-04)
pair of birds soaring (Spain; 2006-06-04)
four birds soaring together (Spain; 2006-06-04)
nine birds soaring together (Spain; 2006-06-04)
flock soaring above a mountaintop (Spain; 2006-06-04)
perched and flying from a rocky ledge (Spain; 2006-06-04)
stick nest (bordered by guano) on a rocky ledge (Spain; 2006-06-04)