The cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a large raptorial bird that is distributed through much of Eurasia. It is also known as the black vulture, monk vulture (due to its tonsure, monk-like appearance) or Eurasian black vulture. Cinereous is a colour, meaning ashy grey in appearance, either consisting of or resembling ashes, or a grey colour tinged with coppery brown. In Europe, the Cinereous Vulture can be found in some Mediterranean countries. By far the largest population occurs in Spain. Outside Europe, the Cinereous Vulture occurs in the Caucasus, China, Russia, Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Korea and Japan. Mediterranean hardwood forests are being logged at a high rate and this bird requires those tress for nesting in. It will not nest on the ground or cliffs so habitat destruction is a direct threat to the species. Like many other raptors this birds lives in a permanent state of monogamy and they may pair up long before reaching sexual maturity in their fifth or sixth year.
