Aegypius monachus
Mamuka Tsiskarauli
Aegypius monachus is a large bird that feeds on dead animals. It nests in Georgia and is found here year-round. It has also been seen during migration. Nesting has been confirmed in the dry zone of the country’s southeast. Seeing one elsewhere does not mean it nests there. Adults are almost entirely dark, with a lighter head, broad wings and a short tail that narrows toward the tip. It is not dangerous to people in an ordinary encounter, but do not touch the bird or approach its nest.
Identification
It is a very large, almost entirely dark bird with a short, wedge-shaped tail, broad wings and a large, thick beak. Adults have relatively lighter heads. From a distance, it is most easily mistaken for a vulture or a large eagle.
It is often about 100–110 cm long, with a wingspan of about 250–295 cm, and often weighs about 7–12 kg. Females are generally larger than males. An adult’s body is uniformly dark brown or black. Its head is lighter, bluish gray, with a little down. It has a dark collar around its neck that resembles a hood. Young birds are blacker and have darker heads. Parts of the legs are bare. The skin at the base of the beak and the base of the beak itself are pale; the beak is large and thick. In flight, its wings are broad and look rectangular, while its short tail tapers toward the tip.
In the 2024 list, Gyps fulvus has the codes YR-R; M. An adult has a pale, sandy-brown body. Its dark flight feathers stand out clearly, its neck is longer, and its feather collar is pale. A young Gyps fulvus is darker and has a brown feather collar. When gliding, it often holds its wings in a V shape. The cinereous vulture is uniformly dark and holds its wings flatter. In the same list, Gypaetus barbatus has the code YR-R. It has narrower wings and a long, diamond-shaped tail. An adult has a rust-colored body and a black “beard.” Neophron percnopterus has the codes BB; M in the list and is much smaller. An adult is white, with black flight feathers and a yellow face. Aquila chrysaetos has a longer tail and a golden nape. Feathers cover its legs down to the toes. A young bird may have white patches at the base of its tail and on its wings.
It nests in dry areas of southeastern Georgia, where grassy plains alternate with juniper woodland. Nesting sites at elevations of 100–900 m were studied from 1994 to 2002. A total of 31 nests were found, all in mature juniper trees. The study names Vashlovani Nature Reserve and the Korughi, Ivri and Chachuni sanctuaries. These findings from that period do not show where the vulture is found or nests across Georgia today. Do not approach a nest.
The cinereous vulture map combines Reptiles.ge editorial photo records with public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table, and the status column separates confirmed distribution from recorded-only regions.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
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The vulture feeds on the carcasses of medium-sized and large mammals, including livestock. Sheep flocks moved through the area studied in southeastern Georgia in winter; dead livestock is a food source for the vulture. It does not usually hunt large live animals.
Related guides
Questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Cinereous vulture.
Yes. According to 2024 data, this bird lives in Georgia year-round and is also seen during migration. Its presence here has been documented in a photograph.
It nests in dry areas of southeastern Georgia, where grassy plains alternate with juniper forests. Seeing the bird elsewhere does not show that it nests there too. Do not approach the nest.
A very large, uniformly dark bird with a short tail that narrows toward the tip and a thick beak. Adults have a relatively lighter head. The griffon vulture has a pale body and holds its wings raised in a V shape. The golden eagle has a longer tail and a golden patch on the back of its head.
Birds of this species are often about 100–110 cm long and weigh about 7–12 kg. Their wingspan is about 250–295 cm.
It feeds on carrion, especially the carcasses of large mammals. In southeastern Georgia, its food is linked to sheep flocks in winter. It does not typically hunt large live animals.
It is found in Georgia year-round and has also been seen during migration. This does not mean the same birds stay where they nest all year: many vultures in the Caucasus appear to leave their nesting areas in winter.
Yes. YR-R means the bird nests and is present in the same area year-round. Nests were recorded on a mature juniper in the southeast. In July 2024, a chick was marked in a nest.
It is harmless during an ordinary encounter, but do not approach its nest. Its global status is NT. The 2014 Red List gives its status as EN D1, while the 2024 list gives its national status as NT. Do not catch a wild bird.
References
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
