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

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Lammergeier

juvenile

Adult

Juvenile Lammergeier, Serra de Boumort, Catalonia Spring 2014

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier or lammergeyer, is a bird of prey, and the only member of the genus Gypaetus. Traditionally considered an Old World vulture, it actually forms a minor lineage of Accipitridae together with the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), its closest living relative. It is not much more closely related to the Old World vultures proper than to, for example, hawks, and differs from the former by its feathered neck. Although dissimilar, the Egyptian and bearded vulture each have a lozenge-shaped tail – unusual among birds of prey.

For more information see: -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_Vulture

A short video of an adult and juvenile Lammergeier:-

Black Vulture

Black Vulture, Serra de Boumort, Catalonia Spring 2014

The Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a large raptorial bird that is distributed through much of Eurasia. It is also known as the Black Vulture, Monk Vulture, or Eurasian Black Vulture. It is a member of the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. It is one of the two largest old world vultures.
This bird is an Old World vulture, and is only distantly related to the New World vultures, which are in a separate family, Cathartidae, of the same order. It is therefore not directly related to the much smaller American Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) despite the similar name and coloration.