According to the International Ornithologists' Union, today science knows about the existence of more than 10 thousand species of birds. Among them are many harmless creatures that look beautiful and need protection. But there are also real monsters among birds – for example, in many parts of the world, including the Caucasus, there lives bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). They inspire fear with their bloodshot eyes and feathers that are painted a bloody color. And these creatures are also able to swallow animal bones completely, which even larger and bloodthirsty predators cannot boast of. Without any exaggeration, bearded vultures are the most brutal birds in the world, and now you will see for yourself.
The bearded vulture is a brutal bird that lives in the Caucasus. Photo: wikimedia.org
Contents
- 1 Where do bearded vultures live
- 2 What does a bearded vulture look like
- 3 Amazing scavenger birds
- 4 Unusual habits of birds
- 5 The largest bird in Russia
Where do bearded vultures live
Brutal bearded vultures, also known as lammergeiers, live in harsh mountainous regions – from Southern Europe to Asia and Africa, preferring heights from 400 to 4500 meters. In Russia, these formidable birds are found only in the Caucasus. Unlike their relatives, the vultures, bearded vultures almost never descend to the plains and do not fly north. This is an extremely rare and protected species, which is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
The bearded vulture in all its glory. Photo: armmuseum.ru
What does the bearded vulture look like
Bearded vultures are real giants among birds of prey. The body length of these creatures can reach 1 meter, and the wingspan is even more impressive – almost 3 meters. Huge birds weigh about 5-7 kilograms.
The photo clearly shows the wingspan of the bearded vulture. Photo: baikalru.ru
Male and female bearded vultures look the same: they have short feathers on their heads, which, unlike other scavengers, completely cover them. On their necks, you can see a kind of “mane” of sharp feathers. And most importantly, under the beak, bearded vultures have a tuft of black feathers that resemble a beard, for which they received such an unusual name.
The makeup of these birds is no worse than that of stern metalheads. Photo: sitekid.ru
Amazing scavenger birds
Unlike other scavengers like griffins, bearded vultures do not dive headfirst into the bodies of their victims, because they often do not need to. Their feathered head remains clean, because they are able to feed on bones, tendons and even hooves, which other predators cannot do.
When feeding, vultures' heads become covered in blood because they completely bury themselves in the bodies of their victims. Photo: nationalgeographic.com
The diet of these birds of prey consists of 85-90% bones, which makes them unique among all living birds. They are the only modern bird species that feeds on the bones of dead animals.
Bearded vultures prefer mammals, especially medium-sized ungulates. They are much less interested in meat and skin – this is a rarity in their menu. But it is worth noting that adult individuals prefer bones, while their chicks feed mainly on meat and skin.
The bearded vulture swallows its food whole. Photo: ebirds.ru
The special “trick” of each bearded vulture is the ability to split bones that are too big to swallow whole. To do this, the birds rise into the air to a height of 50 to 150 meters and drop the bones on the rocks to break them into convenient pieces and get to the nutritious bone marrow. The bearded vulture can carry bones up to 10 cm in diameter and weighing up to 4 kilograms in the air – this is almost its own weight.
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Unusual habits of birds
Brutal bearded vultures have another interesting feature. Their feathers on their chest, head and legs are often colored a bright red-brown. What is most striking is that this is not a natural color – the birds color themselves. To do this, they bathe in rusty water or rub themselves with red earth saturated with iron oxide. These are the only known birds that apply “cosmetics” to themselves. But why? Scientists still do not know for sure.
Perhaps the red color indicates the birds' power and influence. Photo: reddit.com
There is a suggestion that the red color helps protect the nest from microbes — perhaps iron oxide kills bacteria. But another theory is far more exciting: red feathers may be a symbol of power and intimidation. When two bearded vultures are vying for the same prey, they fluff up their colored feathers and put on a display, as if trying to intimidate their rival. The richer the color, the more intimidating the male looks.
Two bearded vultures fighting. Photo: stock.adobe.com
And for an even greater effect, the eyes of the bearded vultures fill with blood, making them bright red, as if emphasizing their threat and danger. This, without a doubt, makes them one of the most terrifying predators in the world.
The largest bird in Russia
With its imposing appearance and unique habits, the bearded vulture is without a doubt one of the most impressive birds on the planet. Its bone-eating habits, terrifying ritual of dyeing itself blood red, and its bright bloodshot eyes make it a true symbol of wildness and power.
You will be surprised, but the bearded vulture is not the largest bird in Russia. Photo: fishki.net
If you want to watch a video of the bearded vulture, check out our Telegram channel right now!
But if you thought that the bearded vulture is the largest and most impressive predator in Russia, you are in for a surprise. You can read about the largest bird in our country, the black vulture, which can weigh up to 12.5 kilograms, in our article “The Largest Bird in Russia: If You See It, You Will Be Shocked.” This impressive creature will definitely not leave you indifferent.