LC
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2013 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 7,436 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 20,400,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 44,500,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 80000-900000 mature individuals poor suspected 2021
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 15.03 years - - -

Population justification: The European population is estimated at 34,800-44,700 pairs, which equates to 69,600-89,400 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.). Approximately 10% of the global range for this species falls within Europe, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 696,000-894,000 mature individuals. However, Botha et al. (2017) estimate the population to be much smaller than this, at 80,000-120,000 individuals. It is placed in the band 80,000-900,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population is increasing in its European range (BirdLife International in prep.) and re-introductions have taken place in France, Italy and the Balkans. The central Asian population is suspected to be stable. Populations in North Africa and Turkey are suspected to be in decline owing to persecution, shooting, poisoning and loss of suitable food owing to changing farming practices. There has also been a significant decline recorded in northern Israel, predominantly due to poisoning (Choresh et al. 2019). However, the overall population trend is suspected to be increasing, largely thanks to conservation efforts in Europe.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bangladesh extant vagrant
Belarus extant vagrant
Belgium extant vagrant
Bhutan extant native
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Bulgaria extant native yes yes
China (mainland) extant native
Croatia extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native
Denmark extant vagrant
Djibouti extant vagrant
Egypt extant native
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant vagrant
Ethiopia extant native
Finland extant vagrant
France extant native yes yes
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant vagrant
Gibraltar (to UK) extant native yes
Greece extant native yes yes
Hungary extant vagrant
India extant native yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Ireland extant vagrant
Israel extant native yes
Italy extant native yes
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant vagrant
Kuwait extant native yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant vagrant
Lebanon extant native yes yes
Libya extant vagrant
Mali extant native
Malta extant vagrant
Mauritania extant native
Mongolia extant native
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant native
Nepal extant native yes
Netherlands extant vagrant
Niger extant vagrant
North Macedonia extant native yes
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native yes
Palestine extant native yes
Poland extant vagrant
Portugal extant native yes yes
Romania extinct native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native
Russia (Central Asian) extant native
Russia (European) extant native yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Senegal extant native
Serbia extant native yes
Slovakia extant vagrant
Slovenia extant native
Spain extant native yes yes
Sudan extant native yes
Switzerland extant vagrant
Syria extant native yes
Tajikistan extant native yes
Togo extant vagrant
Tunisia extant native
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes
United Arab Emirates extant vagrant yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Western Sahara extant vagrant
Yemen extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Albania Thethi
Armenia Dsegh
Armenia Khosrov Reserve
Azerbaijan Gekchai Bozdag mountains
Azerbaijan Zuvand upland
Bulgaria Madzharovo
Bulgaria Studen Kladenets
Croatia Kvarner Islands
Cyprus Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs
Cyprus Limnatis Valley
France Eth Turoun des Aureys
France Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte
France Haute Soule : Forêt des Arbailles
France Haute Soule : massif de la Pierre-St-Martin.
France Hautes Vallées d'Aspe et d'Ossau
France Pènes du Moulle de Jaut
France Pic de l'Estibet et Mondragon
Greece Akarnanika mountains
Greece Filiouri valley and eastern Rodopi mountains
Greece Kato Olympos, Tempi gorge and mount Ossa
Greece Mesolongi and Aitoliko lagoons, Acheloos delta and Evinos estuary
Greece Mount Asterousia (Kofinas), Crete
Greece Mount Dikti, Crete
Greece Mount Giouchtas, Crete
Greece Mount Idi, Crete
Greece Mount Peristeri
Greece National Park of Dadia - Lefkimi - Soufli forest
Greece Nestos gorge
Greece Paramythia mountains
Greece Prasson gorge, Crete
Greece Valtou mountains
Iran, Islamic Republic of Alborz-e Markazi Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arasbaran Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Bamou National Park
Iran, Islamic Republic of Golestan
Iran, Islamic Republic of Oshtrankuh Protected Area
Israel Cliffs of Zin and the Negev highlands
Israel Judean desert
Israel Lake Kinneret and Kinerot
Italy Coast between Bosa and Alghero
Jordan Dana
Jordan Petra
Jordan Wadi Araba
Jordan Wadi Mujib
Jordan Wadi Yarmuk
Montenegro Durmitor
Montenegro Sinjajevina
Palestine Ein Al-Fashkha
Palestine Ein Al-Oja
Palestine Jerusalem wilderness
Palestine Wadi Al-Qelt
Portugal Côa valley
Portugal Portas de Ródão e Vale Mourão
Portugal Serra de Penha Garcia e Campina de Toulões
Portugal South-west coast of Portugal
Portugal Upper River Douro and Águeda valleys
Portugal Upper River Tejo
Russia (European) Akhmet-Skala ridge
Russia (European) Lower Urushten river
Russia (European) Ravine of Cherek-Balkarski river
Russia (European) Ravine of Gundelen-Tyzyl river
Russia (European) Valley of Urup river
Saudi Arabia Hima al-Fiqrah
Saudi Arabia Jabal Aja and Northern Ha'il
Saudi Arabia Jabal al-Lawz
Saudi Arabia Taif escarpment
Saudi Arabia Wadi Turabah and Jabal Ibrahim
Serbia Mucanj
Serbia Ozren-Jadovnik
Serbia Uvac
Serbia Valjevske mountains
Slovenia Breginjski Stol
Slovenia Julijci
Slovenia Karst
Slovenia Snežnik plateau and Pivka valley
Spain Alcarama mountain and Alhama river
Spain Alto Lozoya-La Pedriza
Spain Areta, Archuba and Zariquieta mountain ranges
Spain Arlanza Valley-Peñas de Cervera
Spain Arnedillo-Isasa crag
Spain Bajo Alcanadre-Serreta de Tramaced
Spain Belagua-Ansó-Hecho
Spain Boumort mountains
Spain Bujeo, Ojén, del Niño and Blanquilla mountain ranges
Spain Cabras, Aljibe and Montecoche mountain range
Spain Cazorla and Segura mountain ranges
Spain Ceuta
Spain Coria mountain ranges
Spain Cuenca mountain ranges
Spain Dos Ríos and Orba mountain ranges
Spain Duratón canyon
Spain Echauri crags
Spain El Escorial-San Martín de Valdeiglesias
Spain Gorges of Iregua, Leza and Jubera
Spain Gorramendi mountain and Itxusi crags
Spain Guara mountain range
Spain Humada-Peña Amaya
Spain Izaga crag
Spain La Losa-Orduña (Salvada mountain range)
Spain Las Contiendas mountain range
Spain Las Villuercas mountain range
Spain Leyre, Illón and San Miguel mountain ranges
Spain Líjar mountain range-Zaframagon crag
Spain Moncayo mountain range
Spain Monfragüe
Spain Montaña Oriental Costera
Spain Montejo de la Vega-Riaza canyon
Spain Morella pass
Spain Pass of Beceite-Turmell mountain
Spain Picos de Europa mountain range
Spain Puerto Peña reservoir-Valdecaballeros
Spain Río Huebra-Arribes del Duero
Spain River Guadalope
Spain River Lobos canyon
Spain River Martín canyons and Arcos mountain range
Spain River Mesa canyons
Spain San Pedro mountain range
Spain Sant Gervás mountains
Spain Santo Domingo-Riglos-Gratal
Spain Sierra Morena de Córdoba
Spain Sierra Pelada mountain range
Spain Sierras de Lokiz, Urbasa y Andía
Spain Sobrón canyon
Spain Sotoscueva - Ojo Guareña
Spain Tarifa
Spain Tiermes-Caracena
Spain Ubrique and Grazalema mountain ranges
Spain Upper Ebro and Rudrón canyons
Spain Upper sections of the rivers Tajo and Tajuña
Spain Valdegovía-Arcena mountain range
Spain West Andévalo
Syria Jabal Abdul Aziz
Syria Jabal Slenfeh
Syria Wadi al-Qarn - Burqush
Syria Yarmuk valley
Türkiye Bolkar Mountains
Türkiye Eastern Black Sea Mountains
Türkiye İğdır Plain
Türkiye Kazankaya Valley
Türkiye Küpeli Mountain
Türkiye Tanin Tanin Mountains
Ukraine Crimean Nature Reserve
Yemen Haraz mountains
Yemen High mountains of Ibb
Yemen Jabal al-Nabi Shu'ayb
Yemen Jabal Bura
Yemen Jabal Sumarah
Yemen Kawkaban - Shibam
Yemen Mahwit
Yemen Wadi al-Birayn

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable resident
Grassland Temperate suitable resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding
Shrubland Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 3000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Persecution/control Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Unintentional effects (species is not the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Energy production & mining Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance
Natural system modifications Other ecosystem modifications Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects
Other options Other threat Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Species mortality
Transportation & service corridors Utility & service lines Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/griffon-vulture-gyps-fulvus on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.