Himalayan Vulture or Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)

Himalayan Vulture or Himalayan Griffon Vulture 

Gyps himalayensis

Photo from Pokhara, Nepal

Fact sheet 

Systematic position

Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum:  Chordata

Subphylum:  Vetebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes)

Family: Accipitridae

Genus: Gyps

Species: G. himalayensis

Binomial name: Gyps himalayensis

Nepali name: Muddulo Giddha

Elevation: 76-61,00 meter

Entire length: 115-125 cm

Wing’s length: 260-310 cm

Weight           : 8-12 kg

Reproduction : only one egg in hill

Incubation period: 50 day

Time of chick flying: 4-5 months

Habitat:   900-4000 m height

FOOD:

Carrion, the bird never kills a prey for itself,depend mainly on soft tissue of thigh muscles and viscera of dead ponies, yaks,

cows and buffaloes. Very timid and take some time to approach dead animal.

Long, sparsely, feathered and flexible neck, allows deep penetration into carcasses.

CALL:

grunts, screeches, gooses like clamoring and hisses.

BREEDING:

December-March. Nest made up of sticks, twigs and leaves. Nest put high above rocky ledges of precipices and crags. Egg singleton and white unmarked.

DISTRIBUTION:

Widely distributed throughout 1,000-4,000 meter in Nepal. In  Dolpa, Mustang and Everest region it can be observed roosting and nesting on cliffs . Occurs in Kaligandaki Valley, Langtang Valley, Kathmandu valley, and Chitwan.

RANGE:

Nepal, India, Bhutan and Pakistan

Categories: 

IUCN Red List least concern species