Written by a former BSS member

About Bearded Vultures

Background

The Bearded Vulture is essentially a scavenger which feeds on the remains of dead mammals, birds and reptiles.  Their preference is for bone marrow (and to get at this, they are adept at smashing bones from height, by dropping the larger ones on rocks); but during the mating season, they mainly feed on carrion.  The Bearded Vulture is one of the most endangered species in Europe.

Within Europe, the Bearded Vulture can be found in limited numbers in the mountainous areas of Spain and France (Pyrennes), the Alpine regions of Italy, Switzerland and Austria; and in the Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria); and in Greece.   Just beyond Europe, it is also native in Turkey and Armenia.