Predatory bird of unmistakable appearance, large size (approx 115 cm or 4 ft) and large wingspan (approx 250 cm or 8 ft). Soaring bird in flight, short tail and long, broad wings with tips ending in widely separated "toes" (ends of primary remige feathers). Plumage in general in greyish brown colour with somewhat paler back area. The remige feathers are dark, giving an almost black appearance to the rear end of the wings. It has a characteristic neck covered with white or cream down (which in the juveniles is dark) adorned with a sort of necklace of down on its base of the same colour. The bill is thick and powerful. Legs with naked tarsi.
Rocky environments
Present in rocky gorges, mountain areas and river canyons near open or pasture areas with the presence of cattle. However, due to its large range area it can appear in many types of habitats.
Species resident all year round in Malaga, although the young hatched in the year carry out important dispersive movements, even crossing to Africa. They are colonial birds that begin their breeding in mid-January, making an annual laying of a single egg in a nest located on a rocky cliff. The couple is faithful throughout their lives. It is a scavenger bird that feeds on the remains of livestock and wildlife, especially large ungulates. Also present in landfill sites.
Usual and frequent bird in the province. There are vulture colonies in Sierra Tejeda, Sierra Crestellina, Sierra de Líbar, Garganta de las Buitreras (El Colmenar-Cortes de la Frontera), Sierra de las Nieves, Huma and el Chorro, among others. The observatories and/or rubbish tips of Sierra de las Nieves, Cortes de la Frontera, Sierra Bermeja and Sierra de la Sanguijuela are of interest. In the Great Path it can be watched in stages 7, 9, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, among others.
Griffon vultures have accompanied the man since he adopted livestock habits, fulfilling an important sanitary mission and cleaning the mountain. At present, the reduction of the number of extensive cattle and the regulation at the time of the elimination of corpses have linked them to the rubbish tips and controlled feeders, where the rest of the dead game and cattle are collected.
- Altos de Hondonero
- Camino de la Fuenfría
- El Chorro (Paraje Natural del Desfiladero de Los Gaitanes)
- El Torcal
- Fuente de los 100 Caños
- Genal and Guadiaro rivers junction
- GR 249. Stage 09. Periana - Alfarnatejo (Pulgarín Alto)
- GR 249. Stage 07. Cómpeta - Canillas de Aceituno
- GR 249. Stage 10. Alfarnatejo (Pulgarín Alto) - Alfarnate
- GR 249. Stage 11. Alfarnate - Villanueva del Rosario
- GR 249. Stage 19. Campillos - Embalses del Guadalhorce
- GR 249. Stage 20. Embalses del Guadalhorce - Estación de El Chorro (Álora)
- GR 249. Stage 21. Estación de El Chorro (Álora) - Carratraca - Ardales
- GR 249. Stage 22. Ardales - El Burgo
- GR 249. Stage 23. El Burgo - Ronda
- GR 249. Stage 24. Ronda - Estación de Benaoján
- GR 249. Stage 25. Estación de Benaoján - Jimera de Líbar
- GR 249. Stage 26. Jimera de Líbar - Benalauría
- GR 249. Stage 27. Benalauría - Genalguacil
- GR 249. Stage 28. Genalguacil - Casares
- GR 249. Stage 29. Casares - Estepona
- Llanos de Líbar
- Observatorio Carroñeras Cortes de la Frontera
- Paraje Natural El Torcal
- Paraje Natural Sierra Crestellina
- Quejigales - Puerto de Los Pilones
- Sierra de la Utrera
- Sierra del Padrastro
- Sierra del Padrastro
- Valley of Genal River
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