Cinereous vulture
The cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a massive Old World vulture native to parts of Europe and Asia, also known as the Eurasian black vulture.
Aegypiinae: A subfamily of Old World vultures that includes the cinereous vulture and several related species. This taxonomic group places the cinereous vulture among its closest Old World vulture relatives.
Carrion ecology: The study of how animal remains shape interactions among scavengers, decomposers, and ecosystems. The species participates in carcass food webs across its range.
Cinereous vulture in Spain: The population of cinereous vultures breeding and foraging in Spain. Spain holds a major part of the species' European breeding population.
Griffon vulture: A large Old World vulture, Gyps fulvus, found across parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It shares parts of the cinereous vulture's range but belongs to a different genus.
Accipitridae: The bird family that includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. The cinereous vulture belongs to this family despite its specialized scavenging lifestyle.
Ecosystem services: Benefits that ecosystems provide to people, including processes that support health and livelihoods. By consuming carcasses, cinereous vultures can help limit waste and disease transmission.
Cinereous vulture in Mongolia: The population of cinereous vultures inhabiting Mongolia and neighboring parts of Central Asia. Mongolia lies within the species' broad Asian range.
Bearded vulture: A large Old World vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, that feeds heavily on bones. Its bone-specialist diet contrasts with the cinereous vulture's broad carrion feeding.
Old World vulture: A vulture in the family Accipitridae, native to Europe, Africa, or Asia. This broader group distinguishes it from the unrelated New World vultures.
Vulture restaurants: Managed feeding sites that provide safe carcasses for wild vultures. Supplementary feeding can support populations where natural food is scarce or unsafe.