Hi Steemit family!

This animal has become famous for its original name: the bearded vulture. It is a very peculiar vulture that we want you to know today. Would you like to know why? Well, let's go!

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Where does such a special name as bearded vulture come from? Well, this vulture has the habit of catching its prey, be it animals, bones, tendons or shells, and throwing them to the rocks several times with force. He does this in order to destroy them and make it easier to eat them.

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Obviously, he can achieve this because his beak is strong and the power with which he is able to throw is great, so he is able to destroy anything they put in front of him. In fact, it can turn its food into powder; it shows the intelligence it possesses.

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As an extra to all this, in his tongue, he has a kind of tough callosity, with which he can extract the bone marrow of his prey at once. Sounds terrifying!

Characteristics of the bearded vulture

It is a very large bird, which can measure with its wings open between two and three meters, and weigh up to seven kilograms. Its tail is shaped like a rhombus and its plumage generally has brown tones, regardless of whether they are dark or light. However, when they are young the feathers are black, especially on the head.

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Its face is highlighted by a black band as a mask, which stands out against other species of vultures. This can also be accompanied by a necklace of black feathers, which would go in front of the face to end with a beard.

The behavior of the bearded vulture

Monogamy is not common in the animal kingdom, but the bearded vulture is one of the exceptions confirmed by the rule. It is a faithful animal that looks for a partner and stays by his side for the rest of his life. The females prepare several protected nests, among which they will decide which one to choose when the time comes; they lay eggs only once a year.

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Although the females' heat begins in autumn, the young are born in winter. It is curious that this animal acts with its partner as if they were a marriage, and we say this because it is involved in the incubation of the eggs. So, it's normal to see a male vulture hatching the eggs and taking care of his hatchlings.

This care of the offspring extends over a period of four months, at which time the little one must take flight. This will require an apprenticeship that can last a minimum of 95 days and a maximum of 247 days.

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Its diet is based on bones (hence its name). So much so that it is the only known species that feeds on these to survive; this food is known as the esophagus. In addition, the bearded vulture needs an average of between 250 and 500 grams of bones per day.

Bearded Vulture Habitat

This animal is found in the mountains and forests of Europe, Asia, and Africa, although in some places it is in danger of extinction. The death of the bearded vulture is due to the consumption of toxic products, shots or electrocutions in the electrical lines.

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There are many hunters who without control put baits on the ground to catch other prey, and whereby mistake one of these vultures may end up. This, although an accident, is punishable by the law of the countries in which this species lives. In fact, NGOs are fighting daily to ensure that these laws are tightened up so that the species can be preserved.