BirdingInSpain

Thoughts about the Lammergeier…

Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus

• The Lammergeier is essentially a bone-eating bird and not, as the originally German name suggests, a devourer of innocent lambs.
• The Lammergeier is shy around other vultures, and prefers to stay on the edges of chaotic gatherings of Griffon Vultures around a carcass. Then it will gradually try to edge its way in, hopefully not bothering anyone…

Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus

• Lammergeiers never wander far from the mountains if they can help it. That’s why they need so much assistance in recolonizing the mountain ranges where they have disappeared from.
• Lammergeiers are to mountains, like cheese is to wine.

Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus

Ordesa National Park in the Pyrenees is beautiful, but its beauty is sublime when you watch an adult Lammergeier glide effortlessly over the edge of a stunning gorge.

Ordesa National Park, in the Pyrenees

“How do you tell Lammergeiers apart from Griffon Vultures?” people ask me. Sometimes I explain …
… And sometimes I just grin and say “Don’t worry, you’ll know it when you see it”.

Note: Subscribers to our newsletter will be receiving a free chapter about this marvellous bird, and a detailed chart to determine the ages of Lammergeiers. 

Flying over the Pyrenees

Photo credits: Thanks to Franck Renard and Jan Pedersen for their Lammergeier photos.