Indian vulture

The Indian vulture or long-billed vulture is a bird of prey native to the Indian subcontinent. It is an Old World vulture belonging to the family of Accipitridae. It is a medium-sized vulture with a small, semi-bald head with little feathers, long beak, and wide dark colored wings. It breeds mainly on small cliffs and hilly crags in central India and south India.

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Distribution

Region

Indian Subcontinent

Typical Environment

Found mainly across central, western, and peninsular India, with pockets in adjoining Pakistan (especially Sindh) and parts of lowland Nepal. It frequents open country, dry plains, farmland mosaics, and semi-arid scrub interspersed with grazing lands. Nesting is typically on cliffs and rocky crags; it also roosts on large trees and pylons near villages and towns. Historically common around carcass dumps, it now persists patchily where vulture-safe practices are in place.

Altitude Range

0–1500 m

Climate Zone

Subtropical

Characteristics

Size85–100 cm

Wing Span200–260 cm

Male Weight5.8 kg

Female Weight6.1 kg

Life Expectancy20 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called the long-billed vulture, it suffered catastrophic declines across South Asia in the 1990s–2000s due largely to veterinary diclofenac poisoning from livestock carcasses. Conservation actions now promote vulture-safe drugs (like meloxicam), establish breeding centers, and create Vulture Safe Zones. Its highly acidic stomach destroys many pathogens, making it an important natural sanitation agent.

Gallery

Close-up of Indian vulture showing its long bill

Indian vulture in flight showing its wing span

An Indian vulture flying

Indian vultures nesting on a cliff

Indian vultures are slow and difficult breeders.

Jatayu sculpture in India

Behaviour

Temperament

social and gregarious at food sources

Flight Pattern

soaring glider

Social Behavior

Often forms loose colonies on cliffs and gathers in groups at carcasses, where a dominance hierarchy is evident. Pairs are monogamous and typically raise a single chick, nesting on ledges with a platform of sticks. Roosting is communal on cliffs, large trees, or pylons near foraging areas.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Generally silent away from nests and carcasses. At close range it produces grunts, hisses, and croaks during feeding interactions or at the nest.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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