Strange bird species specializes in eating bones and 'bathing in iron'

Large in size, the bearded vulture impresses with its ability to eat bones and its red feathers from bathing in iron-rich mud streams .

The bearded vulture ( Gypaetus barbatus ) stands about 100–115 cm tall with a wingspan of 2.5–2.85 m, comparable in size to some of the larger North American birds of prey. It has a striking appearance with an ivory-white head and sharp eyes with prominent red-orange rims. Its sharp eyes are further accentuated by a jet-black strip of feathers that extends down its beak, resembling a bandit's mask. Below the beak is a tuft of ragged feathers, giving it the name bearded vulture.

Bearded vultures love to eat animal bones. (Photo: Alberto clemares exposito).

As adults, bearded vultures are primarily dark gray and ivory-white in color. However, the feathers on the head, chest, and legs are often tinged with a rusty orange color due to their habit of bathing in iron-rich mud and sulfur springs.

According to the National Audubon Society, an American environmental nonprofit, there are two possible explanations for the bearded vulture's red bathing behavior .

• First is to show off ability . Iron-rich streams are hidden in the mountains so only the best can find them, thereby showing off their abilities to mates and rivals.
• A second explanation is that iron oxide helps fight bacteria, which are common in the carrion they like to feed on.

Bearded vultures were once widespread in many mountain ranges in Africa, Europe and Asia. In Europe, their range once extended across the southern mountain ranges of the continent, from western Spain through the Alps to the Balkans. But today their range in Europe is limited to small areas in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada in Spain, and the Alps. Small populations of bearded vultures also live on the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Crete. They are occasionally seen in western Europe, including Britain, although this is rare.

The bearded vulture has an impressive wingspan. (Photo: Andrea Vergani).

Bearded vultures are also known as Lammergeier, which means "sheep vulture " in German because of their frequent preying on sheep. They are scavengers that primarily target medium-sized ungulates such as sheep, goats, and ibex. However, meat is not their favorite food.

The bearded vulture is the only bird in the world that eats bones , which make up 85-90% of its diet. Its large, powerful talons are well adapted for breaking bones and extracting the nutrients from the marrow inside. The bearded vulture also has a stomach that contains extremely strong acids to digest bones. If a bone is too large to swallow, it will fly high and drop it on rocks to break it into bite-sized pieces. For this reason, they are called "quebrantahuesos" in Spanish, which means "bone breakers" .