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Glite Dictionary
lammergeier

lammergeier

9.9
A large vulture with black beard-like feathers near its bill that lives in mountains and drops bones to eat marrow
  • noun
  • /ˈlæmərˌɡaɪər/
translation icon : quebrantahuesos
  • As we climbed higher in the mountains, the elusive lammergeier gracefully circled above, a breathtaking sight against the clear blue sky.

Examples

  • During our hike in the Alps, we spotted a majestic lammergeier soaring overhead, its distinctive black beard-like feathers catching the sunlight.

  • The lammergeier is known for its unique behavior of dropping bones from great heights to crack them open for the marrow inside.

  • We were happy seeing the Golden Jackal chasing a flock of Himalayan Monal, the Lammergeier, vultures, ravens, Indian Tortoiseshell butterfly, and Indian Admiral.

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Synonyms

Gypaetus barbatus
vslammergeier
  • Specialized
9.9

A large mountain vulture from Europe and Asia with dark feathers under its beak that eats bones

is the common English name used in general speech
lammergeyer
vslammergeier
9.9

A large vulture with a black beard of feathers that lives in mountains

is the preferred or updated spelling in many modern references
bearded vulture
vslammergeier
  • Indian
9.4

A large mountain vulture with a black line of feathers under its beak

is the formal Latin term or alternate spelling rather than that everyday name

Surface Forms

lammergeier singular
lammergeiers plural

Etymology

Lammergeier comes from the German parts Lämmer and Geier, which mean 'lamb' and 'vulture', because people once thought these large mountain birds ate lambs. Today the lammergeier is a big, bearded vulture that actually eats bones and drops them to break them, so the name helps you remember it is a large mountain vulture.