Cinereous Vultures

The genus Aegypius includes some of the largest and most impressive Old World vultures. They have a strong build, wide wings, and bare heads and necks. These vultures are mostly dark in colour, with small differences between species. They have strong beaks designed for cutting through tough skin and feeding on large dead animals. These birds live in mountainous and open areas across southern Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. They prefer remote places with cliffs for nesting and where there are plenty of large hoofed animals. They are skilled at soaring, using rising warm air currents to cover large areas while looking for food. Their sturdy build and feeding habits set them apart from the lighter and more graceful Gyps vultures, which they sometimes feed alongside at carcasses.