Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) lives in mountainous open terrain across Southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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The Eurasian griffon vulture spans 2.3-2.8 m from wingtip to wingtip, giving it one of the broadest silhouettes among soaring birds. Its body length ranges from 93 to 122 cm, a size that matches its powerful build and enables it to ride thermals high above the landscape. Broad wings and a short tail, together with a contrasting buff body and dark flight feathers, create a striking profile that is unmistakable in flight.
Adults can weigh as much as 15 kg (33.1 lb), a size only seen in captivity. Typical wild individuals range from 6.2 to 10.5 kg, highlighting the species' impressive bulk.
Spain supports more than 90 % of Europe's griffon vulture population, with 30,946 breeding pairs recorded in 2018, making it the species' principal stronghold on the continent. The largest regional concentrations occur in Castile and León and Aragon, where extensive cliffs provide ideal nesting sites. The colony at Hoces del Río Duratón Natural Park is the biggest known, illustrating how the country's rugged terrain underpins the birds' reproductive success.
Griffon vultures avoid the huge energy drain of constant flapping by relying on soaring, a strategy prompted by the high costs of level flight in large birds. While most birds raise their metabolic rate to as much as sixteen times the basal level when flying, these vultures use only about one-point-four-three times that baseline.
When temperatures rise, griffon vultures adjust their posture to expose more of their bald head, increasing bare-skin area from seven to thirty-two percent. This shift more than doubles convective heat loss in still air, allowing the birds to shed excess heat quickly. They also tolerate higher internal body temperatures during hot conditions, a response that reduces the need for water-intensive cooling and helps them conserve energy.
Sources
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As the Eurasian Griffon soars through the sky, its broad wings beat in a slow, hypnotic rhythm, casting a majestic shadow on the sun-baked terrain below. With eyes that scan the landscape for the scent of carrion, this scavenging bird moves with a quiet purpose, its tawny feathers glistening in the warm light as it rides the thermal currents with effortless ease. In its element, the Griffon is a master of the aerial realm, a symbol of wild beauty and resilience that commands our awe and respect.
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