The Bearded Vulture is one of the few birds in the world that primarily feeds on bones, consuming up to 90% of its diet as bone matter.
It has a highly acidic stomach that allows it to digest large bones within 24 hours, extracting nutrients from bone marrow.
When large bones are too big to swallow, the Bearded Vulture will drop them from great heights onto rocks to break them into smaller, digestible pieces.
This vulture is notable for its striking appearance, with a fluffy white beard, bright orange or red feathers (due to dust-bathing in iron-rich soils), and a wingspan of up to 2.8 meters (9 feet).
The Bearded Vulture is listed as Near Threatened, with habitat degradation, poisoning, and human disturbances posing significant threats to its population.
It is found across a broad range from the mountains of Europe, Asia, and Africa, though its population is fragmented and declining in many areas.
Historically, the Bearded Vulture has been subject to persecution due to misconceptions and superstitions, including the unfounded belief that it posed a threat to livestock and humans.