Scientific Name
Aegypius monachus
Geographic Range
Southern Europe to China and Southeast Asia
Diet
Medium- to large-sized carrion (also, snakes and insects)
Found in:
More Information
Cinereous vultures have dark brown plumage with a bluish-gray neck and head and a fluffy collar that lightens with age. Their hooked bill is gray with a pale blue band around the base of the beak. Females are slightly larger than males. These birds forage over large areas while in flight and may “float” on thermal winds at high heights.
Cinereous vultures form monogamous pairs and build nests in trees or on rocks. They may live in loose colonies and reuse those nests. One egg is laid at a time and incubated for 50–68 days. Once hatched, chicks stay in the nest for about four months. This species’ population is declining, especially in Asia, due to decreasing availability of food and direct human threats such as poisoned bait.
Did You Know?
- Cinereous vultures are one of the heaviest and largest birds of prey in the world. They measure 3–4 feet tall and have a wingspan of up to 10 feet. They may weigh up to 27 pounds on average.
- They play an important role in the environment by cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of disease.
- Cinereous vultures have a specialized type of hemoglobin in their blood that allows them to absorb oxygen at extremely high altitudes. They have even been spotted on Mount Everest.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
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Animals Depend On People Too
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Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
