PETER'S PORTFOLIO..............Bird & Wildlife Photography

Welcome to my Web Site which is a photographic record of my interest in Wildlife, particularly with Birds . Todate my wildlife images have appeared in various books and magazines including, Birdwatch, Birding World, Outdoor Adventure Guide, British Birds, The Birding Year Book, Birdwatching, American Birding Association, Birds Illustrated and Bird Art & Photography and also on numerous Web Sites including those of the RSPB. .

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Griffon Vulture

Grffon Vulture, Serra de Boumort, Catalonia Spring 2014

The Griffon Vulture is 93–122 cm (37–48 in) long with a 2.3–2.8 m (7.5–9.2 ft) wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh 6.2 to 10.5 kg (14 to 23 lb) and females typically weigh 6.5 to 11.3 kg (14 to 25 lb), while in the Indian subspecies (G. f. fulvescens) the vultures average 7.1 kg (16 lb). Extreme adult weights have been reported from 4.5 to 15 kg (9.9 to 33.1 lb), the latter likely a weight attained in captivity.^[2]^[3] Hatched naked, it is a typical Old World vulture in appearance, with a very white head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers.