Species profile
About this species
The Lammergeier, also known as the Bearded Vulture, is a large bird of prey found across mountainous regions of Europe, Africa & Asia. It is renowned for its striking appearance, featuring a wedge-shaped tail, rusty-orange plumage on its underparts & a distinctive beard of black bristles beneath its bill. Unlike most vultures, it feeds primarily on bones, dropping them from great heights onto rocky surfaces to access the nutritious marrow within.
High-altitude mountain ranges including the Pyrenees, Alps, Himalayas & African highlands, typically found above the treeline on rocky cliff faces, gorges & open alpine terrain between 500 & 4000 metres elevation.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Lammergeier with us in Tibet.
These departures are part of our Asia programme.
In the field, David Miles & Pui Hang Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning light offers the best conditions for photography, particularly in winter & spring when Lammergeiers are most active around nest sites. The months of January to March coincide with their breeding season, making sightings more predictable near cliff-face nest locations.
Position yourself on cliff edges or high ridges where Lammergeiers are known to soar, allowing you to capture flight shots at eye level rather than from below. Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/2000s to freeze the motion of their impressive wingspan, which can reach up to 2.8 metres. Patience is essential - visit known bone-dropping sites or feeding stations in mountain regions to increase your chances of capturing their unique foraging behaviour.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Lammergeier
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.