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Species › Birds

Griffon Vulture

Gyps fulvus

Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Accipitridae
Presence in the Strait
Resident
Abundance
abundant
Protection in Spain
Special protection (List)
In Spanish
Buitre leonado

Photograph: PJeganathan, CC BY-SA, vía iNaturalist

Length
95–105 cm
Wingspan
255–280 cm
Weight
9,250 g
0100200300LENGTH95–105 cmWINGSPAN255–280 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Abundant resident (807 pairs in 1999), on the increase. Closely associated with rocky outcrops where they nest colonially. They can be seen anywhere in the Strait searching for food.

Identification

In flight, long broad wings with long primary fingers, short black tail and contrast between black trailing edge to wing and brownish body. Adults have a white down-like ruff at the base of their necks, pale brown in juveniles.

Movements

Sedentary with juvenile dispersal. Autumn movements from the end of August to the beginning of December with peaks in 1st hf. November. In spring, from March to the middle of June, with peaks in 1st hf. May.

Ring recoveries

Spain (20), Morocco (3), and three chicks ringed at Alcalá de los Gazules (May-June) controlled in January-February in Senegal (2,500 to 2,800 Km.). Accipitridae Buitre Negro Buitre Moteado juv. ad. Buitre Leonado ad.

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.