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Today on Animal Fact Files we're discussing bearded vultures. Be sure to peck that subscribe button! Let's do some learning Postosuchus Warrior's request! Vultures in general have a bad reputation thanks to their carrion eating lifestyle, and bearded vultures are no exception with a label of ‘lamb killer’ causing their ultimate demise in the Alps. It’s unfortunate that many people fail to see the wonderful service these birds provide. Vultures consume the corpses that, if left festering, could cause unimaginable disease outbreak, and in Asia, Africa, and southern Europe bearded vultures act as the tail-end of this natural clean up crew. Why? A bearded vulture’s diet consists almost entirely of bones. After the other scavengers have cleared the fleshy bits of carcasses, bearded vultures swoop in on wingspans of more than eight and a half feet (2.6 meters) to swallow small bones whole and grab larger bones which will then be dropped from heights of more than 300 feet (90 meters) until they break to consumable sizes. Yeah, these birds are metal as -

Bearded vultures get their name from the dangly beard hanging below their beak. Younger bearded vultures without adult plumage may have a less conspicuous beard, but, as they age, the beard becomes more prominent. Adult bearded vultures also appear in varying shades of rusty red. Unlike the pink feathers of flamingos obtained through diet, a bearded vulture’s red color is actually obtained from the surrounding environment. Adults will bath in pools rich in iron oxide which in turn stains their white feathers red. Why the bird’s do this is still a mystery, though some hypothesis include disease prevention as well as display of strength. In general, female bearded vultures are slightly larger than males, and a pair or trio of bearded vultures will fiercely defend their 100 square mile (259 square kilometers) or larger territory. These birds live in mountainous areas, usually more than 2,000 feet (600 meters) above sea level. They live on the edges of the earth, usually sticking to cliffs overlooking fields where prey items may be found. Bearded vultures prefer the bones of small to mid-sized ungulates, but they will also take smaller mammals and even reptiles if the need arises. For these birds, the best time for finding food is in winter.

Think about it: winter is usually the most difficult season for animals to endure which means bearded vultures tend to have more food during this time; because of this, bearded vultures time their reproduction with this increase in food supply. Bearded vultures are typically considered monogamous, but trios of two males and one female have been documented living together, as well. Each parent takes part in building the nest and caring for the young. Typically more than one egg is laid, but only one chick will survive, with the second egg laid as insurance against a premature death of the first egg. The eggs are incubated for about two months and the surviving young will leave the nest at about four months of age. It’s during this time that bearded vultures are most vulnerable. Not only can poor weather conditions take the lives of the developing birds, predators such as ravens, eagles, and other vultures may consume them, as well. If they can manage past this perilous stage of life and they can avoid the hazards imposed on them both by humans and the natural elements, adult bearded vultures may live long lives at the top of the food chain.

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