Cinereous Vulture

Cinereous vultures breed across parts of southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including Central Asia, Mongolia, northern India and Pakistan, and mainland China. They rank among the world's largest flying birds and are exceptionally large even among birds of prey. Females are normally somewhat larger and heavier than males. Both sexes have broad heads and massive bodies clothed in dark brown or blackish feathers, giving the species the somber appearance reflected by its common name (Animal Diversity Web).

Carrion forms the overwhelming majority of the cinereous vulture's diet. Common food includes the carcasses of rabbits, sheep, deer, wild boar, pigs, cattle, and other ungulates. Its powerful bill can tear through tough skin, muscle, and tendons. Live prey is taken only rarely, although snakes and insects have been recorded. Cinereous vultures are monogamous and form enduring pair bonds that may last for life. Both males and females contribute to parental care during their seasonal breeding cycle (Animal Diversity Web).