Gypaetus barbatus , Photo: Michael Lahanas Gypaetus barbatus
(Linnaeus, 1758) * Carolus Linnaeus: Systema Naturae ed.10 p.87
The Lammergeier, Lammergeyer, or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus
barbatus ("Bearded Vulture-Eagle"), is the only member of the
genus Gypaetus. Traditionally considered an Old World vulture,
it actually forms a minor lineage of Accipitridae together with
the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), its closest living
relative. They are not much more closely related to the Old
World vultures proper than to, for example, hawks, and differ
from the former by their feathered neck. Although quite
dissimilar, Egyptian and Bearded Vulture both have a lozenge-
shaped tail that is unusual among birds of prey. It eats mainly
carrion and lives and breeds on crags in high mountains in
southern Europe, Africa, India, and Tibet, laying one or two
eggs in mid-winter which hatch at the beginning of spring.
Populations are resident. Unlike most vultures, the Lammergeier
does not have a bald head. This huge bir