Himalayan Vulture

The Himalayan vulture, or Himalayan griffon vulture, is the largest of the Gyps species, the second-largest Old World vulture after the cinereous vulture, and perhaps the largest and heaviest bird in the Himalaya. Weight ranges from 6 to 12.5 kg, averaging about 9 kg. The upperside is a pale buff with dark brown greater coverts, tail and wing quills, the legs are covered in buffy feathers, and the underside is pale brown or buff, almost white in some birds. It differs from the similarly coloured Indian vulture by its stouter, more robust bill (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is native to the Himalaya and foothills of north and north-eastern India and the adjacent Tibetan Plateau, living mainly in the higher regions at about 1,200–5,500 m. It makes a rattling sound as it descends on a carcass and can grunt or hiss at roosts or when feeding. Younger birds have a pale bill and buffy-white streaks on the scapulars and wing coverts. The breeding season begins in January. SoIB 2023 rates it a Moderate conservation priority, with a long-term decline of about 44% and a Moderate range of about 211,000 km² (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).