| Himalyan Griffon | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.) |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Gyps |
| Species: | G. himalayensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Gyps himalayensis Hume, 1869 |
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The Himalayan Vulture or Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European Griffon Vulture, G. fulvus.
Adults are 103–150 cm (41–59 in) long, have a span of 260–310 cm (100–120 in) across the wings and weigh 8–12 kg (18–26 lb).[2] By weight and wingspan, they nearly equal the Cinereous Vulture in size as the largest Old World vulture. Thanks in part to their long neck, the Himalayan is the longest vulture, although the species is second to the long-tailed Secretarybird in total length among the raptors.[3]
It breeds on crags in mountains in the Himalayas and Tibet, laying a single egg. Birds may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of animals, which it finds by soaring over open areas and mountains. These birds often move in flocks.
The Himalayan Griffon Vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald white head, very broad wings, and short tail feathers. It is even larger than the European Griffon Vulture. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The whitish body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers.
This vulture grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on carrion.
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