61% of the bearded vulture’s diet consists of medium-sized ungulates, which the birds force off cliffs with vigorous beating of their wings.
Deceased mammals account for 93% of the bearded vulture’s diet, with 61% being medium-sized ungulates. They often trap larger ungulates near the edges of cliffs and force them to fall off by the vigorous beating of their wings.
They are also known to prey on tortoises, various species of small birds, and smaller mammal prey, such as marmots, hyraxes, and hares.
Sources: (BirdLife International, 2017; Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001; Margalida, 2008; Margalida, et al., 2009; Tenenzapf, 2011)
Image: Susanne Nilsson
