About the Cinereous Vulture
The cinereous vulture, also known as the black vulture, Eurasian black vulture, and monk vulture, is a very large raptor in the family Accipitridae distributed through much of temperate Eurasia. With a body length of 1.2 m, 3.1 m (10 ft) across the wings and a maximum weight of 14 kg (31 lb), it is the largest Old World vulture and largest member of the family Accipitridae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The cinereous vulture measures 98–120 cm (39–47 in) in total length with a 2.5–3.1 m (8 ft 2 in – 10 ft 2 in) wingspan. Males can weigh from 6.3 to 11.5 kg (14 to 25 lb), whereas females can weigh from 7.5 to 14 kg (17 to 31 lb). It is the largest accipitrid and is thus one of the world's heaviest flying birds. Average weights were long not known to have been published for this species but the median weight figures from two sources were 9.42 kg (20.8 lb) and 9.55 kg (21.1 lb). However in a Korean study, a large survey of wild cinereous vultures was found to have weighed an average of 9.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Cinereous Vulture sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan, Germany, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Morocco, Thailand, Estonia, Gibraltar, Moldova, Senegal, Lebanon, North Macedonia.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Swamp HarrierCircus approximansThe swamp harrier is largely dark brown, becoming lighter with age, and has a distinct white rump.
Crested Honey BuzzardPernis ptilorhynchusAbout 57–60 cm (22–24 in) in size, the crested honey buzzard is a fairly large raptor.
Harris's HawkParabuteo unicinctusThis medium-large hawk is roughly intermediate in size between a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).
Side by side: Cinereous Vulture vs Harris's Hawk · Cinereous Vulture vs Swamp Harrier · Cinereous Vulture vs Crested Honey Buzzard
Learn the Cinereous Vulture for real
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