Gyps fulvus fulvus
<Rare and Endangered Animals of Armenia
The Griffon Vulture
File:Griffon.jpg The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.
It breeds on crags in mountains in southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia, laying one egg. Griffons may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Griffon Vultures have been re-introduced successfully into the Massif Central in France.
Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas. It often moves in flocks.
Griffon is a typical vulture, with a white bald head, very broad wings, short tail and a 2.5m wingspan. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers
This vulture grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on carrion.
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Animal in Armenia
Սովորական սպիտակագլուխ անգղ (“Sovorakan spitakaglukh ang’gh”)
Status
Rare species. The number decreases.
Habitat in Armenia
Registered in Abovyan, Vayk, Aparan, Ararat, Artashat, Goris, Gugark, Yeghegnadzor, Ijevan, Kapan, Meghri, Noyemberyan, and Shamshadin regions. Can sometimes be met in other regions of Armenia, too.
Number in the wild
Not more than 50 pairs.
Reasons for decrease in number
Poaching and decrease of forage resources.
Number in captivity
A regular bird in a number of zoos of the former Soviet Union and abroad.
Measures of protection taken
Hunting is forbidden in the territory of Armenia. Included in Khosrov and Dilijan Nature Reserves.