Egyptian Vulture killed by Bonelli's Eagle

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Volen Arkumarev

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Oct 24, 2025, 8:22:47 AM10/24/25
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Dear colleagues,

At the following link, you can read about a young Egyptian Vulture released in Bulgaria that was most likely killed by a Bonelli’s Eagle during its migration through Greece. This is the third such case we have documented. Previously, one juvenile was killed on a Greek island, and another released individual in Oman.


Best,
Volen

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Ohad Hatzofe

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Oct 24, 2025, 3:40:56 PM10/24/25
to Volen Arkumarev, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture
Hi Volen,

We had experienced two such cases in the past in Mt. Carmel, Israel.
Both EVs were tagged with GPS and were closely monitored. In both cases also the Bonelli's eagles were tagged since all the individuals from both species were released captive born birds..
At least in one case we suspected that the Egyptian vulture had a health problem prior to the predation and we can't tell what led to it before it was predated by the Bonelli's eagle.

Cheers,
Ohad

‫בתאריך יום ו׳, 24 באוק׳ 2025 ב-15:22 מאת ‪Volen Arkumarev‬‏ <‪volen.a...@gmail.com‬‏>:‬
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j.ta...@4vultures.org

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Oct 24, 2025, 4:58:03 PM10/24/25
to Ohad Hatzofe, Volen Arkumarev, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture
Hi Volen,
 
In Portugal we also had one case. In March 2017 a sheperd saw an egyptian vulture fighting with an eagle overhead, and the egytian vulture subsequently dropped dead from the sky.
 
We collected the body and performed a forensic necropsy, where it was observed that the bird had extensive hematomas on the right face, including around the eye, and one deep perfuration of the throat. (by the eagle´s tallons? Here some photos:
 
 
Although the shepherd did not identify the eagle, we suspect it was a Bonelli´s as there are a couple of breedi pairs in the place where this happened.
 
Best,
 
José
 
On 10/24/2025 9:40 PM CEST Ohad Hatzofe <ohad.h...@gmail.com> wrote:
 
 
Hi Volen,
 
We had experienced two such cases in the past in Mt. Carmel, Israel.
Both EVs were tagged with GPS and were closely monitored. In both cases also the Bonelli's eagles were tagged since all the individuals from both species were released captive born birds..
At least in one case we suspected that the Egyptian vulture had a health problem prior to the predation and we can't tell what led to it before it was predated by the Bonelli's eagle.
 
Cheers,
Ohad
 
 
‫בתאריך יום ו׳, 24 באוק׳ 2025 ב-15:22 מאת ‪Volen Arkumarev‬‏ <‪volen.a...@gmail.com‬‏>:‬
Dear colleagues,
 
At the following link, you can read about a young Egyptian Vulture released in Bulgaria that was most likely killed by a Bonelli’s Eagle during its migration through Greece. This is the third such case we have documented. Previously, one juvenile was killed on a Greek island, and another released individual in Oman.
 
 
Best,
Volen
 
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Ohad Hatzofe

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Oct 24, 2025, 5:15:35 PM10/24/25
to j.ta...@4vultures.org, Volen Arkumarev, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture
Hi again,

Just to make it clear:
In our cases it was not just killing. Actually the Egyptian vultures were predated and eaten by the Bonelli's eagle.
Cheers,
Ohad

‫בתאריך יום ו׳, 24 באוק׳ 2025 ב-23:57 מאת <‪j.ta...@4vultures.org‬‏>:‬

Volen Arkumarev

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Oct 27, 2025, 5:44:49 AM10/27/25
to Ohad Hatzofe, j.ta...@4vultures.org, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture
Dear all,

Thank you for sharing these other records of Bonelli's eagles predation on Egyptian Vultures. Here are some more details about this latest case: based on the ACC data we can say that the EV was attacked while in flight at about 40m height above the ground and speed of about 40 km/h. The eagle was feeding on it for about an hour and a half. Then it returned the next day and was feeding for about two hours. Attached are some photos provided by NECCA of what has left from the EV.

Best,
Volen

Neslihan 3.jpg
viber_image_2025-10-13_10-34-53-580.jpg
viber_image_2025-10-13_10-34-55-637.jpg

Umberto Gallo Orsi

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Oct 27, 2025, 5:56:03 AM10/27/25
to Volen Arkumarev, Ohad Hatzofe, j.ta...@4vultures.org, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture

Thanks Volen for sharing this and for triggering such and interesting sharing of info.

That was a hungry eagle…

 

Umberto

Massimiliano Di Vittorio

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Oct 27, 2025, 6:56:35 AM10/27/25
to Umberto Gallo Orsi, Volen Arkumarev, Ohad Hatzofe, j.ta...@4vultures.org, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture
Dear Volen
thanks for this very interesting info
Massimiliano Di Vittorio

Alvaro Camiña

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Oct 27, 2025, 5:00:30 PM10/27/25
to Volen Arkumarev, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture

Dear Volen,

 

I see in the website that you mention “Neslihan was suspected to have been attacked by a local pair of Bonelli’s Eagles and did not survive” . The photo “viber… image 637” showing the skull, backbone, sinsacrum and also the tarsus, reminds me other remains I have seen of a vulture eaten by other vultures, like griffons.

 

In your mail below you refer to the eagle feeding for “about one hour and a half”, and the “next day for another four hours”.  Suspected is not the same as proved of being attacked. Do you have any proof of that?  From your comments,  the eagle ate the entire EV; two species predator and prey with a rough similar size. Or did you measured the time the eagle spent feeding based on  the ACC data.

 

I guess the eagle could effectively attack and kill a weakened EV, but other vulture/s finished.

 

Best

A,

image001.png

Pascual Lopez

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Oct 27, 2025, 5:21:58 PM10/27/25
to Alvaro Camiña, Volen Arkumarev, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture
Dear all,

I agree with Álvaro’s point. I have also seen several Bonelli’s Eagles preying on different species, and they rarely consume the carcasses as thoroughly as in the photo. The remains shown look much more like those of a carcass that has been subsequently scavenged or “cleaned up” by vultures.

Best regards,  

Pascual

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De: life-egypt...@googlegroups.com <life-egypt...@googlegroups.com> en nombre de Alvaro Camiña <aca...@acrenasl.eu>
Enviado: lunes, octubre 27, 2025 10:00 p. m.
Para: 'Volen Arkumarev' <volen.a...@gmail.com>
CC: 'LIFE_Egyptian_vulture' <life-egypt...@googlegroups.com>
Asunto: RE: Egyptian Vulture killed by Bonelli's Eagle
 

Victoria Saravia

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Oct 28, 2025, 8:33:03 AM10/28/25
to Pascual Lopez, Alvaro Camiña, Volen Arkumarev, LIFE_Egyptian_vulture

Dear Alvaro and Pascual,

 

Many thanks for sharing your insights and previous experience regarding Bonelli’s eagles’ attacks on other bird species.

 

We cannot conclusively confirm that our Egyptian vulture was indeed attacked by a Bonelli’s eagle, so we have therefore presented the case as a suspected attack. We have tried to provide the most plausible explanation based on the evidence found, the data provided by the GPS tag, the terrain and our knowledge of local avifauna.

 

The spot where the incident took place is approximately 2 km away from an active Bonelli’s eagle territory, and -as it has already been confirmed by other colleagues in previous mails-, there are several documented cases on Bonelli’s attacking Egyptian vultures. To our understanding, these facts support the hypothesis of this species being the most probable suspect.

 

As to regards to the thorough cleaning of the carcass, we are aware and acknowledge that all we have are hypotheses. However, we considered vultures unlikely (although indeed not impossible) given that the closest known roost for Griffon vultures is located approximately 250 km further up north, and sightings of vultures in the Peloponnese are quite rare.

 

We hope this helps clarify our theory and resolves any misunderstandings.

 

Best regards,

Victoria

 

 

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