The
bearded vulture (
Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the
lammergeier or
ossifrage, is a
bird of prey and the only member of the genus
Gypaetus. Traditionally considered an
Old World vulture, it actually forms a minor lineage of
Accipitridae together with the
Egyptian vulture (
Neophron percnopterus), its closest living relative. It is not much more closely related to the Old World vultures proper than to, for example,
hawks, and differs from the former by its feathered neck. Although dissimilar, the Egyptian and bearded vulture each have a
lozenge-shaped tail — unusual among birds of prey. In July 2014, the
IUCN Red List has reassesed this species to be
near threatened. Before July 2014, it was actually classed as
Least Concern. Their population trend is decreasing.