Vultures (buitres in Spanish) can be seen in various parts of Spain, circling ominously on thermal currents in mountainous regions. Their large wing span and protruding head makes them easy to spot. Vultures are scavengers and will mainly feed on the carcasses of dead animals although it has been reported that groups have attacked and killed livestock such as cattle or sheep. Once they have found a suitable carcass, vultures will gorge themselves so much that they won’t be able to take off for at least an hour!
Griffon Vulture
There are four species of vulture in Spain. The variety you are most likely to see is the Griffon vulture which has greatly increased in population since a low of only a few thousand in 1980. The Griffon vulture is one of the biggest birds flying in Europe, with a wingspan of 250 centimetres and a weight of up to six kilos.
Canarian Egyptian Vulture
The Canarian Egyptian Vulture is found on the two easternmost of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. This particular variety has declined in numbers to an alarming degree and measures are being taken to encourage and protect the breeding pairs.
Black Vulture
The Black or Monk Vulture is found in parts of Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha and has been recently re-introduced into Cataluña. 80% of Europe’s Black Vulture population can be found in Spain. However, like the other species of vultures, the advance of the industrial world has led to a big decline in numbers, especially with the birds eating carcasses poisoned by pesticides. Many birds are also killed by flying into power lines.
Bearded Vulture
The Bearded Vulture is the rarest vulture in Spain with only a handful of breeding pairs in the Pyrenees. They are called quebrantahuesos (bone breakers) in Spanish as they get the marrow from bones by smashing them on rocks.
Female vultures lay a single egg which takes between 48-54 days to hatch. She will rarely leave her nest, set high up on crags on mountainsides, until her young has hatched, grown and taken flight, so the male is kept busy feeding them. The vultures prefer to nest high up cliffs and on crags as it is easier for them to just launch themselves into the air from their nest. They can be extremely ungainly when trying to take off directly from the ground, especially after a big feed!
Vulture Conservation
Wildlife conservation societies have a number of projects in place, such as vulture feeding stations, to protect and conserve vultures in Spain. Volunteer groups have been set up in various areas to study the birds and to keep a count of their numbers.
Amanda Payne - By Amanda Payne: Topic Editor for European Affairs. Amanda is a freelance writer with a special interest in Spain and all things ...
