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DISTRIBUTION
The Cinereous Vulture Inhabits a broad range
from Korea to the Black Sea, with an isolated population in Spain.
In winter, range can extend south into the Middle East and Sudan.
Its habitat includes many kinds of open terrain, from semi-desert
and steppe to upland grasslands; also mountainous forest where there
are large grazing animal stocks and bare montanes. The vulture prefers
mountain forests or scrub lands in most areas, but can also be found
in mountain steppes and grasslands on the high plateaus of the Himalayas
in Tibet and China. |
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DESCRIPTION
Length: 3 feet. Weight: 18 pounds. Wingspan:
8-9.5 feet. Female slightly larger and heavier. Plumage (body
feathers) blackish or dark brown; head and neck blue-grey.
Broad head covered in black or brown down. Relatively short
neck, neck ruff of dark brown feathers, black crop-patch.
Brown eyes, black beak, legs pale-blue grey or whitish yellow.
Vultures do not have feet adapted for killing,
they lack the sharp talons of the other birds of prey, but
they do have a beak able to break into a carcass before other
species of vultures like Griffon Vultures. It may also be
able to kill rodents and small mammals with its beak.
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DIET
The Cinereous Vulture, in common with all vultures,
lives almost exclusively on carrion (dead animals). The vulture
prefers medium to large carcasses; occasionally will take live prey
such as larger lizards and tortoises. It uses its strong beak to
rip and tear at the meat. |
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LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Throughout its range, the Cinereous Vulture is
mostly a solitary bird. It may also be seen in pairs or small groups.
It takes wing as the air warms in the morning, and soars continually
until evening, when it roosts in a tree. At a carcass it is usually
alone or in a very small group. It may arrive late, and drive off
the large number of other vultures already at the ood site. It is
quarrelsome, but wary, and will move away to a high point after
eating, rather than staying near the carcass. |
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REPRODUCTION
Nests are large structures of branches
and grasses lined with wool, rags, and other rubbish, which
are added to each year and are built in trees. Clutches consist
of 1-2 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 50-55 days. Chicks
are tended and fed by both parents. Fledging period is not
precisely known, but is at least 95 days, perhaps 120. The
young are semi-altricial. |
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COMMUNICATION
Vultures are almost
invariably quiet, if not silent birds. The Cinereous Vulture is
no exception, and confines its utterances to occasional croaks and
hisses when at a carcass. During the breeding season there are mewings,
and loud squalling and roaring. The young at the nest also utter
guttural cries. |
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INTERESTING FACTS
1. The Cinereous Vulture is threatened by habitat
alteration in its breeding areas, particularly the destruction of
native forests, forest fires, poisoning and a shortage of food as
a result of changes in traditional farming practices. Many birds
are trapped or shot in China for trade in their feathers.
2. Cinereous (sin-AIR-ee-us) means gray tinged
with black, though the birds are solid black when they're born,
then turn chocolate brown.
3. There are currently thought to be less than
4,000 Cinereous Vultures in the world.
4. Threats to its survival come from two areas:
1. It is believed to be a pest by farmers and, despite its protected
status throughout its range, it is still hunted and shot or poisoned.
2. Modern methods of husbandry reduce the number of carcasses available
to carrion eaters generally. Far from being pests, carrion eaters
are nature's mechanism for dealing with dead animal matter and keeping
the food chain going.
5. Spain has opened several "vulture restaurants,"
or sites where dead deer and sheep are left to make sure the area's
vultures get enough to eat. And North American zoos are breeding
the birds for future reintroduction programs. So far, there are
48 birds living at zoos in Detroit, Battle Creek, St. Louis, Cleveland,
Columbia, S.C., and other cities. |
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