Lammergeier vs Griffon Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus and Gyps fulvus
Lammergeier
Gypaetus barbatus
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Comparison notes
Field marks and practical differences
The Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) and Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) are both large carrion feeders found in mountainous and grassland habitats. The Lammergeier is distinguished by its impressive wingspan of up to 290 cm and slimmer body (95-125 cm length), with a diet primarily consisting of bone fragments and some vertebrates. In contrast, the Griffon Vulture is slightly smaller in length (93-110 cm) but heavier, with a wingspan reaching 280 cm. It has a pale head with a distinctive white neck collar and a short, square tail, making it easier to identify in flight. Field identification can be tricky as both species soar on thermals and feed on carrion. However, the Griffon Vulture’s pale head and neck collar contrast with the Lammergeier’s more uniform plumage and longer tail. The Griffon Vulture feeds exclusively on soft tissues, often in large groups, whereas the Lammergeier is unique for its bone-dropping behaviour. Observing these subtle differences will help photographers and birdwatchers distinguish between the two in the field.
Size stats
Compare species by wingspan and weight
- Body length
- 95 - 125 cm
- Wingspan
- 230 - 290 cm
- Weight
- 4 - 7 kg
- Body length
- 93 - 110 cm
- Wingspan
- 240 - 280 cm
- Weight
- 6 - 11 kg
Habitats
Where they live
Diet breakdown
What they eat
- Carrion90%
- Vertebrates10%
- Carrion100%
Species notes
Descriptions and photographer notes
Lammergeier
The Lammergeier is a unique vulture with a wingspan of nearly three metres. It has a wedge-shaped tail and striking feathers. Adult birds have orange-buff undersides, which they get by bathing in iron-rich soil. Their heads have a black mask and rough feathers that look like a dark beard. Unlike other vultures, it mainly eats bone marrow. It carries large bones high into the air and drops them onto rocks to break them open and get to the marrow inside. This bird lives in mountainous areas across southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. It prefers remote cliff faces and high ground, usually above fifteen hundred metres. In Europe, you can find them in the Pyrenees, the Alps, and some scattered Mediterranean mountain areas. The Lammergeier builds its nests on hard-to-reach cliff ledges and often uses the same sites for many years. It soars on broad wings with very little flapping, which helps it use rising warm air currents in the mountains. This way, it can cover large areas while searching for dead animals to feed on.
Griffon Vulture
The Griffon Vulture (aka Short Necked Griffon) is a large, pale bird with wide wings that can stretch up to 280 centimetres. Adults have light brown feathers with a noticeable white collar around the neck and a pale head covered in short white down. When flying, the dark feathers on the wings stand out against the lighter feathers underneath. The bird also has a short, square-shaped tail that is easy to recognise. This vulture prefers mountainous areas in southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, where it nests in groups on cliff faces. These birds live in open countryside and highlands. They glide on warm air currents while looking for dead animals to eat. Griffon Vultures mainly feed on the soft parts of medium to large animal carcasses. They often gather in large numbers at feeding spots. Their strong beaks are designed to tear flesh rather than break bones, which is different from how some other vultures feed.