The Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) (Scopoli 1786)

Physical appearance. The Indian vulture is closely related to the Slender-billed vulture; in fact as noted above, both species were once considered one species, the Longbilled vulture. It is also smaller and more lightly-built than the Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus, with a weight of 5.5 to 6.3 kg (12-13.9 lbs), a body and tail length of 80-103 cm (31-41 in) and a wingspan of 1.96 to 2.38 m (6.4 to 7.8 ft) (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

This species has a pale yellowish bill and cere, a large fluffy white ruff, buff back and upperwings (with larger feathers containing dark centers that give the back 'a broadly scalloped appearance'); the neck is blackish with pale down on the upper hind neck, and pale yellow feet; in flight its thighs are similar in color to the underparts (Rassmussen et al. 2001: 24). Juveniles have a darker bill and cere, a pinkish head and neck covered with light colored down and heavily streaked plumage (Fig. 1.4a,b,c). Subadults are intermediate between the adults and juveniles (Rassmussen et al. 2001).

Fig. 1.4. Indian Vulture

Classification. The physical differences between this species and the Slender-billed vulture, and the fact that their ranges do not overlap, contributed to the reclassification of the Long-billed vulture into the two species (Rasmussen and Parry 2001). Compared with the Slender-billed vulture, it has a shorter, deeper bill, a thicker partly down-covered neck (the other species has no down), a fluffier ruff, a clean buff rather than 'dingy' buff coloration of the back and upper wing coverts, lower feathers and uppertail coverts lacking dark centers, pale tipped upper- and uppertail-coverts and less downy outer leg feathers (Rassmussen et al. 2001: 25).

Foraging. This species is found in cities, towns and villages near cultivated areas, and in open and wooded areas. It also forages in open and wooded areas, and often in association with the White-rumped vulture when scavenging (BirdLife International 2012).

Breeding. The Indian vulture is mostly a colonial cliff nester (Ali and Ripley 1968-1998; Brown and Amadon 1968; del Hoyo et al. 1994; Alstrom 1997; Grimmett et al. 1998). A survey of the vultures present in Sindh, Pakistan by Iqbal et al. (2011) found all the vultures' nests on cliffs. In India, nests are usually built by small colonies of 2 to 12 pairs on cliff-face ledges and/or rock outcrops (Baker 1932-1935). Exceptions on record included a large colony of 50 nests at Taragurh hill, Rajasthan reported by Baker (1932-1935) and one of 30 pairs mentioned recorded by Hume and Oates (1889-1890). In Pakistan, colonies of 3-16 nests existed on outcrops up to the altitude of 325 m (Roberts 1991-1992). Subramanya and Naveein (2006) describe a nest 35 m up a steep-sided cliff, on the south side of the Ramadevarabetta hills, south-west of Bangalore (Karnataka, India).

However, in some areas, such as Rajasthan, tree nesting has been recorded (Naoroji 2006). Chhangani (2009: 65) notes that the Indian vultures in the Great Indian Thar desert of Rajasthan nested in both cliffs and trees, 'an aspect requiring more intensive work.' Mukherjee (1995), reported trees for nesting sites, but Collar, Andreev, Chan, Crosby, Subramanya and Tobias (the editors of Threatened Birds of Asia; The Bird Life International Red Data, Book, Bird Life International 2001: 618) argue that as there are no other reports of tree-nesting, this assertion 'may therefore be doubtful; it certainly requires verification.'

The breeding season in India is November-March, mostly concentrated between December and January for both India (Baker 1932-1935) and Pakistan (Roberts 1991-1992). Only one oval white egg is laid (Barnes 1885; Hume and Oates 1889-1890; Brown and Amadon 1968; Roberts 1991-1992). The incubation period for the egg is estimated to be about 50 days (Brown and Amadon 1968) (Fig. 1.4d).

Population status. The distribution of the Indian vulture is shown in Fig. 1.4e. As noted by Chaudhry et al. (2012) and Thiollay (2000) Long-billed vultures (including the current Indian vulture) and White-rumped vultures were the most abundant vultures in South Asia during the first half of the twentieth century. Now, they have severely declined in numbers.