Movements and Migration

Breeding pairs are apparently sedentary or elevational or short-distance migrants throughout the species’ range, but in autumn juveniles and immatures can move south, returning in spring. Breeders at Spanish colonies generally remain year-round, with only a few individuals absent for short periods, before returning (16 Bernis, F. (1966). El Buitre negro (Aegypius monachus) en Iberia. Ardeola 12(1):45–99. Close ). Adults fitted with GPS transmitters in Mongolia (n = 9) stayed year-round in the country (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ). In Crimea (181 Akimov, M. P. (1940). [The colony of the Black Vulture Aegypius monachus L. in the nature reserve of the Crimea]. Trudy Krymskogo gos. zapovednika 2:217–227. (In Russian.) Close ) and Turkmenistan (182 Sukhinin, A. N. (1958). Breeding and feeding of some birds of prey in Badkhyz. Trudy Instituta Zoologii i Parazitologii. Akademiia Nauk Turkmenskoi SSR 3:47–118. Close ) breeders do not leave their colonies in winter, and in Russia (Greater Caucasus, Altai-Sayan and southeast Transbaikalia) the situation is basically similar, with breeding pairs spending the winter in the nesting areas (70 Tilba, P. A. (2020). Chernyy grif. Aegypius monachus. Cinereous Vulture. In Atlas gnezdyashchikhsya ptits yevropeyskoy chasti Rossii. Atlas of Breeding Birds of the European Part of Russia (M. V. Kalyakin and O. V. Voltzit, Editors), Fiton XXI, Moscow, Russia. pp. 215–216. Close ). However, a Cinereous Vulture banded as a nestling in Mongolia on 2006 was recorded in Primorsky (Russia) during winter 2018 (183 Glushchenko, Y. N., M. A. Okulova, R. P. Reading, and D. E. Kenny (2018). Pervaya vstrecha mechennogo chornogo grifa Aegypius monachus v Yuzhnom Primor’ye. Russkiy ornitologicheskiy zhurnal, Ekspress-vypusk 27(1609):2257–2260. Close ).

The population on Mallorca is considered sedentary, only making movements to the neighboring islands of Menorca (184 Mayol, J. (1977). Contribución al conocimiento del Buitre Negro (Aegypius monachus) en Mallorca. Bolletí de la Societat d'Història Natural de les Balears 22:150–178. Close , 185 Escandell, R., S. Catchot, and F. Torrents (1994). Aves de Menorca. GOB, Menorca. Close ) and Ibiza (184 Mayol, J. (1977). Contribución al conocimiento del Buitre Negro (Aegypius monachus) en Mallorca. Bolletí de la Societat d'Història Natural de les Balears 22:150–178. Close ). None of the Cinereous Vultures banded on these islands has been recorded elsewhere. The Crimean population is also considered sedentary (1 Glutz von Blotzheim, N., K. M. Bauer, and E. Bezzel (1971). Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas. Band 4. Falconiformes. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Close ); however, a case of possible migration was witnessed on 26 November 2018, when a flock of 14 Cinereous Vultures flew southwest from Cape Sarich (44°23′N, 33°44′E), directly into the wind ca. 900 m above sea level, and were seen to continue out to sea for about 15 km (186 Prokopenko, S. P. (2018). About possible migration of Black Vultures (Aegypius monachus) over the Black Sea. Berkut 27(1):48. Close ).

Three males that hatched in the Lozoya Valley (Madrid, Spain) were observed breeding in the same colony by their 5‒6th calendar year, nesting between 1,818 and 4,697 m of their natal nest. Of two females at the same colony, one was seen breeding in its fifth calendar year 879 m from its natal nest and the other was found nesting in its sixth calendar year 75 km away, in the Iruelas Valley (Avila, Spain) (187 de la Puente, J., A. Bermejo, J. C. del Moral, and A. Ruiz (2011). Juvenile dispersion, dependence period, phylopatry and breeding maturity age of the cinereous vulture. In Ecología y conservación de las rapaces forestales europeas (I. Zuberogoitia and J. E. Martínez, Editors), Departamento de Agricultura de la Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain. pp. 270–280. Close ).

Recruitment has been recorded in Andalucía (Spain) between 1 and 139 km from the natal nests (n = 20), with 65% of these birds remaining in their natal colony and the remainder in different colonies (188 Dobado, P. M., F. J. Díaz, M. A. Díaz-Portero, L. García, E. Luque, J. Martín, P. Martínez, and R. M. Arenas (2012). El buitre negro Aegypius monachus en Andalucía (España). In The Black Vulture: Status, Conservation and Studies. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on the Black Vulture Aegypius monachus (Cordoba, Spain, 21–23 October 2004) (P. M. Dobado and R. Arenas, Editors). Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain. pp. 13–37. Close ).

There are several migratory routes, along which birds move south in autumn and return north in the spring. On the one hand, there is a route in East Asia between Mongolia and South Korea and neighboring regions. Much further west, there is another route in the Middle East; Cinereous Vultures from Türkiye and the Caucasus can migrate to Israel and continue to wintering sites in the Arabian Peninsula and northeast Africa.

Obviously, the Himalayas present a significant barrier to raptor migration; however, the Cinereous Vulture is a regular migrant to the western Himalayas (Pakistan and northwest India), and in the central Himalayas (Nepal), whereas there are no data for the ornithologically more poorly covered eastern Himalayas (northeastern India and Bhutan) (189 Juhant, M. A., and K. L. Bildstein (2017). Raptor migration across and around the Himalayas. In Bird Migration Across the Himalayas. Wetland Functioning Amidst Mountains and Glaciers (H. H. T. Prins and T. Namgail, Editors), Cambrige University Press, Cambridge, UK. pp. 98–116. Close ).

Finally, there is a westerly migration route between southwest Europe, crossing via the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa, and wintering in the Sahel region. Formerly, only a few juveniles from southern France and Iberia move south in autumn across the Strait of Gibraltar, but the numbers increased during the period 1972–2020, probably related to the increase in the Spanish population during this period (190 Ramírez, J., J. Elorriaga, and A. de la Cruz (2022). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar. Ostrich 93(3):151–156. Close ).

Migration by the same individual can occur in successive years. Round-trip migrations between Mongolia and South Korea by two juvenile Cinereous Vultures was recorded in two years (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ). Another vulture tagged as a nestling in southeast Mongolia, on 20 July 2006, was recorded in South Korea during the winters of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 (183 Glushchenko, Y. N., M. A. Okulova, R. P. Reading, and D. E. Kenny (2018). Pervaya vstrecha mechennogo chornogo grifa Aegypius monachus v Yuzhnom Primor’ye. Russkiy ornitologicheskiy zhurnal, Ekspress-vypusk 27(1609):2257–2260. Close ). In the Middle East, one juvenile reappeared in Sudan during two different migratory cycles (106 Efrat, R., and O. Hatzofe (2021). First evidence of a migration route from Eurasia to East Africa of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Journal of Raptor Research 55(3):451–454. Close ). However, individual variation in seasonal movement patterns is apparent among some vultures from the Caucasus after their first migration cycle (102 Gavashelishvili , A., M. McGrady, M. Ghasabian, and K. L. Bildstein (2012). Movements and habitat use by immature Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) from the Caucasus. Bird Study 59(4):449-462. Close ).

Migration south occurs in autumn, mainly in October and November (191 Kim, J. H., O. S. Chung, W. S. Lee, and Y. Kanai (2007). Migration routes of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) in northeast Asia. Journal of Raptor Research 41(2):161–165. Close , 102 Gavashelishvili , A., M. McGrady, M. Ghasabian, and K. L. Bildstein (2012). Movements and habitat use by immature Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) from the Caucasus. Bird Study 59(4):449-462. Close , 119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close , 90 MaghrebOrnitho (2020). European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa. https://magornitho.org/2020/05/cinereous-vultures-wandering-africa/ Close , 106 Efrat, R., and O. Hatzofe (2021). First evidence of a migration route from Eurasia to East Africa of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Journal of Raptor Research 55(3):451–454. Close ). Northbound movement takes place in March, April, and early May (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close , 90 MaghrebOrnitho (2020). European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa. https://magornitho.org/2020/05/cinereous-vultures-wandering-africa/ Close , 106 Efrat, R., and O. Hatzofe (2021). First evidence of a migration route from Eurasia to East Africa of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Journal of Raptor Research 55(3):451–454. Close ). Migrants are seemingly always juveniles (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ) or immatures (192 Kang, J. H., B. R. Hyun, I. K. Kim, H. Lee, J. K. Lee, H. S. Hwang, T. K. Eom, and S. J. Rhim (2019). Movement and home range of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus during the wintering and summering periods in East Asia. Turkish Journal of Zoology 43:305–313. Close ). No adults were recorded crossing the Strait of Gibraltar (190 Ramírez, J., J. Elorriaga, and A. de la Cruz (2022). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar. Ostrich 93(3):151–156. Close ).

In East Asia, Cinereous Vultures from Mongolia migrate southeast, crossing northeast China and North Korea to winter in South Korea, northeast China (191 Kim, J. H., O. S. Chung, W. S. Lee, and Y. Kanai (2007). Migration routes of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) in northeast Asia. Journal of Raptor Research 41(2):161–165. Close , 113 Batbayar, N., R. Reading, T. Natsagdorj, and P. W. Kee (2008). Movement patterns of cinereous vultures in Mongolia. Falco 32:5–7. Close , 193 Kenny, D., N. Batbayar, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, J. Azua, J., and R. P. Reading (2008). Dispersal of Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) fledglings from the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. Vulture News 59:13–19. Close , 192 Kang, J. H., B. R. Hyun, I. K. Kim, H. Lee, J. K. Lee, H. S. Hwang, T. K. Eom, and S. J. Rhim (2019). Movement and home range of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus during the wintering and summering periods in East Asia. Turkish Journal of Zoology 43:305–313. Close , 119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ), and Primorsky in southeast Siberia (112 Kalnitskaya, N., Yu. N. Glushchenko, and S. G. Surmach (2015). Chernyy grif Aegypius monachus v Primorskom Krae i ekologicheskie predposylki ego massovoy gibeli. Russkiy Ornitologicheskiy Zhurnal Ekspress-vypusk 24(1179):2953–2961. Close ). Some individuals tagged in Mongolia have been sighted in eastern Russia: one tagged on 20 July 2006 in Ikh Nart National Park (Mongolia) was recorded on 28 January 2018 in Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve (43°05′53″N, 131°33′10″E, Primorsky, Russia); and another tagged at the same site on 8 August 2018 was recorded on 6 April 2019 near Barabash (43°05′40″N, 131°15′53″E, Primorsky, Russia) (194 Korobov, D. V., R. P. Reiding, Y. N. Glushchenko, and M. J. Willis (2019). Novaya vstrecha mechenogo chornogo grifa Aegypius monachus v Primorskom kraye. Russkiy ornitologicheskiy zhurnal, Ekspress-vypusk 28(1771):2265–2266. Close ).

Cinereous Vulture s were comparatively common on migration in spring and autumn in the mid-19th century in northwest Türkiye (195 Alléon, A., and J. Vian (1869-1870). Des migrations des oiseaux de proie sur le Bosphore de Constantinople. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliquée 21:258–273, 305–315, 342–348, 369–374, 401–409; 22:81–86, 129–138, 161–165. Close ), and there are also records of birds thought to be on passage in northeast Türkiye (105 Shirihai, H., R. Yosef, D. Alon, G. M. Kirwan, and R. Spaar (2000). Raptor migration in Israel and the Middle East: a summary of 30 years of field research. International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, Israel. Close , 196 Kirwan, G.M., Boyla, K.A., Castell, P., Demirci, B., Özen, M., Welch, H. and Marlow, T. (2008). The Birds of Turkey: the Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London. Close ).

In the Middle East, Cinereous Vultures from Türkiye and the Caucasus migrate south in autumn, crossing Iraq and Iran, and winter in Saudi Arabia (68 Gavashelishvili, A., and M. J. McGrady (2006). Some results of research on the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Georgia. Vulture News 54:4–10. Close , 102 Gavashelishvili , A., M. McGrady, M. Ghasabian, and K. L. Bildstein (2012). Movements and habitat use by immature Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) from the Caucasus. Bird Study 59(4):449-462. Close ). Also in the Middle East flyway, a Cinereous Vulture from Türkiye moved south to Israel, from there crossed to Egypt, and eventually wintered in Sudan, returning to Türkiye in spring (106 Efrat, R., and O. Hatzofe (2021). First evidence of a migration route from Eurasia to East Africa of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Journal of Raptor Research 55(3):451–454. Close ). At the Besh Barmag bottleneck (Azerbaijan), a 3 km-wide coastal plain between the Greater Caucasus and Caspian Sea, 60 and 35 individuals were counted in autumn 2011 and spring 2012, respectively, although some of these could have been local breeders (197 Heiss, M. (2016). Records of globally Red-listed bird species migrating through the Besh Barmag bottleneck, Azerbaijan Republic. Podoces 11(2):43–52. Close ).

There are records of the species in northwest Africa and the Sahel that indicate movements to and from this region via the Strait of Gibraltar; see Nonbreeding Range. However, there are few data concerning this phenomenon to date (90 MaghrebOrnitho (2020). European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa. https://magornitho.org/2020/05/cinereous-vultures-wandering-africa/ Close , 190 Ramírez, J., J. Elorriaga, and A. de la Cruz (2022). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar. Ostrich 93(3):151–156. Close ).

Spring

In East Asia, spring migration to Mongolia started on 23 March from South Korea (192 Kang, J. H., B. R. Hyun, I. K. Kim, H. Lee, J. K. Lee, H. S. Hwang, T. K. Eom, and S. J. Rhim (2019). Movement and home range of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus during the wintering and summering periods in East Asia. Turkish Journal of Zoology 43:305–313. Close ). Mean departure date from South Korea was 2 April (± 2.34 days SE), with mean arrival in Mongolia of 21 April (± 2.48 days SE) (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ). Two subadults captured in South Korea and fitted with satellite transmitters commenced their spring migration on 30 March and 13 April, respectively, and visited 5‒8 sites en route, each for 2‒3 days (191 Kim, J. H., O. S. Chung, W. S. Lee, and Y. Kanai (2007). Migration routes of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) in northeast Asia. Journal of Raptor Research 41(2):161–165. Close ).

Spring migrants have been recorded in Great Himalayan National Park (India): four were seen on 13 April 2003 near Sai Ropa and five on 24 April 2003 at the Rohtang Pass, at 3,978 m elevation (198 Sangha, H. S. (2004). New and significant records from the Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Birds 1(1):33. Close ).

In the Middle East, a juvenile Cinereous Vulture left its wintering area in central Saudi Arabia on 18 March, crossed Iraq during 2‒25 March, Iran between 25 March and 4 May, arrived in Georgia on 11 April, and was present at a site 196 km west of Astrakhan (Russia) on 17 July (68 Gavashelishvili, A., and M. J. McGrady (2006). Some results of research on the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Georgia. Vulture News 54:4–10. Close ). There are spring records in Syria in 1978, 1982, and 1983 (105 Shirihai, H., R. Yosef, D. Alon, G. M. Kirwan, and R. Spaar (2000). Raptor migration in Israel and the Middle East: a summary of 30 years of field research. International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, Israel. Close ). Spring migration in Israel occurs between 10 February and 4 May (105 Shirihai, H., R. Yosef, D. Alon, G. M. Kirwan, and R. Spaar (2000). Raptor migration in Israel and the Middle East: a summary of 30 years of field research. International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, Israel. Close ); at Eilat, Cinereous Vultures were observed between mid-January and late April (199 Safriel, U. (1968). Bird migration at Elat, Israel. Ibis 110(3):283–320. Close ), and at the same site one was seen during spring migration in 1988 (200 Shirihai, H., and D. A. Christie (1992). Raptor migration at Eilat. British Birds 85(4):141–186. Close ). An individual originally fitted with GPS in Israel started spring migration from its wintering area in Sudan on 12 March, returned via a similar route to Israel then continued north to Türkiye, where it remained for the next seven months (106 Efrat, R., and O. Hatzofe (2021). First evidence of a migration route from Eurasia to East Africa of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Journal of Raptor Research 55(3):451–454. Close ). A juvenile was seen crossing the Bosphorus (Türkiye) on 7 April 2006 (201 Üner, Ö., K. A. Boyla, E. Bacak, E. Birel, İ. Çelikoba, C. Dalyan, E. Tabur, and Ü. Yardim (2010). Spring migration of soaring birds over the Bosphorus, Turkey, in 2006. Sandgrouse 32(1):20–33. Close ).

During the period 1972‒2020, 49 individuals were observed crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from North Africa to Spain between 14 February and 1 June (190 Ramírez, J., J. Elorriaga, and A. de la Cruz (2022). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar. Ostrich 93(3):151–156. Close ). In western Africa, a Cinereous Vulture fitted with a GPS transmitter left its wintering area in Mauritania on 28 February, headed north to Morocco, crossed into Algeria and then Tunisia; on 1 May it returned to Algeria and later to Morocco, before crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain on 7 May (90 MaghrebOrnitho (2020). European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa. https://magornitho.org/2020/05/cinereous-vultures-wandering-africa/ Close ). During spring migration, the species was recorded in Morocco between 6 March and 1 June (1968‒1985) (88 Thévenot, M., R. Vernon, and P. Bergier (2003). The Birds of Morocco: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists' Union Check-list 20. British Ornithologists' Union, Tring, UK. Close ); six were recorded between 18 March and 7 May at Jebel Moussa (89 El Khamlichi, R. (2016). Recensement des Vautours et autres rapaces en migration prénuptiale 2016 sur la partie sud du détroit de Gibraltar, Jbel Moussa - Maroc. Go-South Bulletin 13:213–223. Close ). At Ceuta, there are seven records between March and May during 1991‒1996 (202 Jiménez Martínez, J., and J. Navarrete Pérez (2001). Estatus y Fenología de las Aves de Ceuta. Instituto de Estudios Ceutíes, Ceuta, Spain. Close ), whilst in southern Spain wintering vultures left Doñana National Park between the end of March and May (176 Valverde, J. A. (1966). Sobre Buitres Negros en Andalucía. Ardeola 12(1):101–115. Close ).

Autumn

In East Asia, autumn migration from Mongolia commenced on 9 October (192 Kang, J. H., B. R. Hyun, I. K. Kim, H. Lee, J. K. Lee, H. S. Hwang, T. K. Eom, and S. J. Rhim (2019). Movement and home range of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus during the wintering and summering periods in East Asia. Turkish Journal of Zoology 43:305–313. Close ). The mean date on which juveniles departed Mongolia was 29 October (± 4.32 days SE), with mean arrival in South Korea on 27 November (± 3.37 days SE) (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ). During southbound migration in this region, they visited 1‒11 sites en route for 2‒9 days each (191 Kim, J. H., O. S. Chung, W. S. Lee, and Y. Kanai (2007). Migration routes of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) in northeast Asia. Journal of Raptor Research 41(2):161–165. Close ).

At Thula Kharka (central Nepal), the mean number of vultures counted during autumn migration (September‒December) in two years (2012 and 2013) was 65 (189 Juhant, M. A., and K. L. Bildstein (2017). Raptor migration across and around the Himalayas. In Bird Migration Across the Himalayas. Wetland Functioning Amidst Mountains and Glaciers (H. H. T. Prins and T. Namgail, Editors), Cambrige University Press, Cambridge, UK. pp. 98–116. Close ).

In the Middle East, individuals (n = 6) fitted with GPS transmitters as nestlings in Georgia and Armenia migrated south from their natal areas between 2 and 26 November (102 Gavashelishvili , A., M. McGrady, M. Ghasabian, and K. L. Bildstein (2012). Movements and habitat use by immature Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) from the Caucasus. Bird Study 59(4):449-462. Close ). One fitted with a GPS transmitter in Georgia began to move south on 15 November, crossed Azerbaijan and Armenia during 15‒23 November, Iran between 24 November and 8 December, Iraq from 8‒25 December, and then remained in central Saudi Arabia from 25 December to 20 March (68 Gavashelishvili, A., and M. J. McGrady (2006). Some results of research on the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Georgia. Vulture News 54:4–10. Close ). Autumn migration in Israel is evident mainly between 10 October and 5 December (105 Shirihai, H., R. Yosef, D. Alon, G. M. Kirwan, and R. Spaar (2000). Raptor migration in Israel and the Middle East: a summary of 30 years of field research. International Birding & Research Center in Eilat, Israel. Close , 203 Alon, D., B. Granit, J. Shamoun-Baranes, Y. Leshem, G. M. Kirwan, and H. Shirihai (2004). Soaring bird migration over northem Israel in autumn. British Birds 97(4):160–182. Close ); at Eilat, autumn migrants have been observed between late September and early November (199 Safriel, U. (1968). Bird migration at Elat, Israel. Ibis 110(3):283–320. Close ) and three were seen during the 1980 season (200 Shirihai, H., and D. A. Christie (1992). Raptor migration at Eilat. British Birds 85(4):141–186. Close ).

Juveniles fitted with GPS transmitters in the Türkmenbaba Dağları (western Türkiye) started autumn migration between mid October and early November; they initially moved to eastern Türkiye, whereafter one crossed Iraq and western Iran, eventually reaching north-central Saudi Arabia, whereas another crossed into Syria and moved south to the Jordan/Saudi Arabia border region (101 Yamaç, E., and C. C. Bilgin (2012). Post-fledging movements of Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus in Turkey revealed by GPS telemetry. Ardea 100(2):149–156. Close ).

There is another migration route from Eurasia to East Africa; a juvenile captured in Israel and fitted with a GPS transmitter on 5 November, after release headed south, paused at the Gulf of Aqaba, then continued west across the Gulf of Suez, before turning south to winter in Sudan at 17.9°N, where it remained between 12 November to 12 March. The following year, the same individual left Türkiye on 29 October and arrived in the same wintering area in Sudan on 21 November (106 Efrat, R., and O. Hatzofe (2021). First evidence of a migration route from Eurasia to East Africa of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Journal of Raptor Research 55(3):451–454. Close ).

During the period 1972‒2020, 20 vultures were recorded crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to North Africa between 15 July and 20 November (190 Ramírez, J., J. Elorriaga, and A. de la Cruz (2022). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus movements between Europe and Africa show a pattern across the Strait of Gibraltar. Ostrich 93(3):151–156. Close ). A Cinereous Vulture fitted with a GPS transmitter departed the Grands-Causses region (France) on 24 October and headed south, crossed the Pyrenees at Col de Perthus on 25 October, then moved south via the Mediterranean coast and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar on 8 November. In Morocco, it continued southeast being recorded in the Algerian Sahara and later, on 4 December, in Sokoto, at the border between Niger and Nigeria (90 MaghrebOrnitho (2020). European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa. https://magornitho.org/2020/05/cinereous-vultures-wandering-africa/ Close ). Another individual, released in the Sierra de la Demanda (Burgos Province, Spain), headed south on 31 October and, on 24 November, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Africa, continued south crossing the Sahara to its wintering area in Mauritania (90 MaghrebOrnitho (2020). European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa. https://magornitho.org/2020/05/cinereous-vultures-wandering-africa/ Close ). In southern Spain, the first overwintering birds arrive at Doñana National Park in October (176 Valverde, J. A. (1966). Sobre Buitres Negros en Andalucía. Ardeola 12(1):101–115. Close ).

The flight characteristics (range of means plus mean values) of juveniles migrating through the Middle East were: above ground altitude 629‒1,523 m, flight elevation above sea level 989 m, GPS speed 44 km/hour, and distance travelled in 24 hours 35.7 km (102 Gavashelishvili , A., M. McGrady, M. Ghasabian, and K. L. Bildstein (2012). Movements and habitat use by immature Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) from the Caucasus. Bird Study 59(4):449-462. Close ). Juveniles in northeast Asia moved a mean of 120.40 km/day ± 8.02 SE during spring migration and 88.92 km/day ± 7.59 SE in autumn (119 Reading, R. P., J. Azua, T. Garrett, D. Kenny, H. Lee, W. K. Paek, N. Reece, P. Tsolmonjav, M. J. Willis, and G. Wingard (2020). Differential movement of adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in northeast Asia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 13:156–161. Close ).

In Israel, Cinereous Vultures were observed at Eilat migrating with Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) and Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) (104 Shirihai, H. (1996). The Birds of Israel: A Complete Avifauna and Bird Atlas of Israel. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ).

Information needed.