Rare monk vulture with up to three-meter wingspan spotted in Denmark

A rare sight has graced the skies of Denmark: a monk vulture, Europe's largest bird of prey, has been spotted soaring over central Jutland. This marks a significant event for Danish ornithology, as it is the first confirmed sighting of a wild monk vulture in the country, not one raised in captivity.

The majestic bird, capable of a wingspan nearing three meters, is typically found in Southern Europe. Its presence in Denmark has generated considerable excitement among birdwatchers and experts. A birdwatcher first photographed the vulture over Sandfær Plantage near Holstebro on Thursday, June 25. Subsequent image analysis confirmed its identity as a monk vulture.

Further sightings occurred on Saturday, with the large bird seen flying over Herning city center. Ornithologists have managed to trace the bird's ring tag, identifying its origin to a nest in Madrid, Spain. This detail is crucial for the Danish Ornithological Society's Rare Birds Committee, which will review the observation.

Egon Østergaard, chairman of the Danish Ornithological Society, confirmed the sightings and expressed his view that the bird will likely be accepted as a wild species. He recalled a previous sighting of a monk vulture in Denmark in 1975, which had escaped from a European zoo. The current vulture is a relatively young bird, hatched in 2023 or 2024. Another of its kind was spotted in Denmark in the late 2010s, but it was not recognized as a wild species. Monk vultures are primarily scavengers, rarely preying on live animals, and prefer nesting in trees on slopes to aid their initial flight.