Slender-billed vulture
Slender-billed vulture | |
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Slender-billed Vulture in Arunachal Pradesh, India | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Accipitridae |
Genus: | Gyps |
Species: | G. tenuirostris
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Binomial name | |
Gyps tenuirostris | |
Distribution in blue | |
Synonyms | |
The slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) is an
It used to be the Indian vulture, under the name of “long-billed vulture”. However, these two species have non-overlapping distribution ranges and can be immediately told apart by trained observers, even at considerable distances. The Indian vulture is found only to the south of the Ganges and breeds on cliffs while the slender-billed vulture is found along and nests in trees.
Description
At 80 to 95 cm (31 to 37 in), in length, this mid-sized vulture is about the same size as its sister species, the Indian vulture.[7] This vulture is mostly grey with a pale rump and grey undertail coverts. The thighs have whitish down. The neck is long, bare, skinny and black. The black head is angular and narrow with the dark bill appearing narrow midway. The ear opening is prominent and exposed.[8]
Distribution and habitat
The slender-billed vulture is found in
Status and conservation
This species has suffered a marked decline in its numbers in recent years. The population of this species and the Indian vulture declined by 97% overall and in
The slender-billed vulture is a protected species listed on the appendix II list of
Captive-breeding programs in India are aiming to conserve the species, and it is hoped that vultures can be released back in the wild when the environment is free of diclofenac.[10] Joint efforts between the RSPB and the Zoological Society of London resulted in the first successful captive breeding in 2009.[10] Two slender-billed vultures hatched and are being independently cared for in Haryana and West Bengal.[11][12]
References
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2021). "Gyps tenuirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22729460A204781113. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Gray, G.R. (1844). "Vulturinae, or Vultures". The genera of birds : comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera. Vol. 1. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. p. 5–6.
- ^ Hume, A. O. (1878). "Gyps tenuirostris Hodgson". Stray Feathers. 7: 326.
- .
- ^ Baker, ECS (1927) Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 47:151
- ^ Rand, A. L. & Fleming, R. L. (1957). "Birds from Nepal". Fieldiana: Zoology. 41 (1): 55.
- ^ Vulture facts Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine (2011).
- ^ Rasmussen, PC & JC Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. p. 90.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9552607-3-5.
- ^ a b c d Alleyne, R. (2009). "Endangered vulture could be saved thanks to help from RSPB". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ^ a b "Indian vulture births are hailed". BBC News. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
- ^ a b Press Association (2009-08-06). "Boost for endangered vultures after captive breeding success". Guardian. Retrieved 2009-08-06.