Cinereous Vulture

Aegypius monachus (Linnaeus, 1766)

2016-12-03 Osh province	© Iskender Aliev

Biology

Black Vulture is rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the rocky low mountains and the gently sloping foothills of the high ridges on altitudes 1300-1500 m. In spring appears from the end of February to early April. Breeds in separate pairs on 200-1500 m apart and in loose colonies of 2-4 pairs. Nest is built on the rock, fall slope near the bush; or on the tree (spruce); nest is constructed from the dry twigs and is lined with hair, pieces of felt , grass and feathers; nest is used many years and is repaired every year. Laying of 1 egg is in mid-March – April. Both parents incubate for 55 days and feed the nestling which fledge in July – August. Sometimes large groups of Black Vultures (one hundred and more birds) convene in places of the mass birthing of Saiga antelope (in summer), or in places of mass hunting to this antelope (in autumn). Autumn migration does not appear explicitly, on Chokpak Pass the singles and groups of 2-4 birds were observed from mid September to the end of October.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.