Gypaetus

Gypaetus is a genus of Old World vultures in the family Accipitridae. It is a monotypic genus, containing the bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, commonly known as the bearded vulture or lammergeier. The species is distinguished by its large size, pale head, dark body, and a characteristic throat ruff and facial markings that resemble a beard.

Bearded vultures are among the largest raptors, with a wingspan that can exceed two meters. Adults typically have a dark brown to black body with a pale, almost white head and neck, a dark mustache-like line along the face, and a shaggy ruff around the throat. They are ground-foragers as well as high-elevation soaring birds and are well adapted to rugged mountainous terrain.

Their range spans several continents, including southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, with populations in the Alps, Pyrenees, Atlas Mountains, the Himalayas, and the Caucasus. They favor high, remote mountain regions with cliff faces suitable for nesting and bone-rich carrion.

The bearded vulture is a bone-eating specialist. Its diet consists largely of bones and marrow from carcasses, which it processes by dropping large bones from a height to crack them open. While primarily scavengers, they may opportunistically feed on other carrion or small animals.

Reproduction occurs on cliff ledges, where pairs lay one to two eggs. Both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing, with fledging taking several months. The species faces conservation challenges, including poisoning, lead exposure from ingested spent ammunition, habitat disturbance, and collisions with infrastructure. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, with ongoing conservation and reintroduction efforts in several range states.