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Gypaetus barbatus


Gypaetus barbatus
Photo Information
Copyright: Huseyin Gursu (Avare) Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 4 N: 75] (514)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 80-400 OS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-01 14:33
Viewed: 1446
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lammergeier

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gypaetus
Species: G. barbatus
Binomial name: Gypaetus barbatus


The Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus is an Old World vulture, the only member of the genus Gypaetus (Storr, 1784). It breeds on crags in high mountains in southern Europe, Africa, India and Tibet, laying one or two eggs. The population is resident. Lammergeier have been re-introduced successfully into the Alps, but is still one of the rarest raptors in Europe.

Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals. It will drop bones from a height to crack them to get at the bone marrow. Its old name of Ossifrage (or Bone Crusher) relates to this habit. Live tortoises are also dropped in similar fashion to crack them open.

Unlike most vultures, Lammergeiers do not have a bald head. This huge bird has a 2.5m wingspan, and is quite unlike most other vultures in flight due to its long narrow wings and wedge shaped tail.

Description

Adults have a buff-yellow body and head, the latter with the black moustaches which give this species its alternative name. Tail and wings are grey. Juvenile birds are dark all over, and take 5 years to reach full maturity. Lammergeiers are silent apart from shrill whistles at the breeding crags. They have a length of 37-41 inches (95-105 cm), with a wingspan of 98-110 inches (250-280 cm), they weigh between 5000 and 7000 grams (11-15 pound). They can live up to 40 years in captivity.

Their habitat is spread over Southern Europe, Africa, the Middle-east, India and Tibet, inhabiting exclusively mountainous terrain (between 500 and 4,000 meters, 1,300-13,100 feet). They breed from mid December to mid February, laying 1 to 2 eggs, which hatch between 53 and 58 days. After which the young spend 106 to 130 days in the nest, before flying out on their own.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lammergeier
Janice, coasties has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To reina: At a zooAvare 1 01-02 13:24
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 1 N: 328] (2024)
  • [2006-01-01 14:44]
  • [+]

Hi Huseyin, wow what an impressive guy you show here! What a great combination of colours. Where did you catch him?
Thanks for the clear information.
Best wishes for the new year! Reina

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
  • [2006-01-01 16:50]

Amazing creature, Huseyin. Beautiful profile of this unusual vulture with sharp details and gorgeous colors. The details on the eye are so clear. The subject shows up beautifully against the black BG.
Congratulations and TFS. ; )
Happy New Year to you and yours!

The detail and the colors are very fantastic, this is a first time I've seen this beautiful bird up close. :)

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2006-01-01 22:17]

What a portrait,fantastic eye contact!Details are nice.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-01-02 0:16]

Huseyin - this is awesome! What a wonerful shot of the Bearded Vulture, he looks so good, nice and sharp and I love his colours. Well portrayed, thank you.
Janice

A beautiful and distinct bird, this vulture, the hystorical accounts are full of it in my country but now, sadly, it is close to extinction there.

Hello Huseyin

Wow... impressive shot. Lovely plumage colours. Nice crisp, clear shot. Congrats!

Excellent detail and colour!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-01-02 16:46]

Beau portrait de cet oiseau,l'éclairage est excellent et les couleurs sont justes.

Félicitations et merci.

Joseph.

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