This species is uncommon. It inhabits woodlands and shrublands, from the sea level up to 1,600m. It mainly forages on carrion, small mammals, and birds. It is migratory, breeding in Turkey, Spain, Scandinavia, Italy, Germany, France, and Ukraine, and wintering in India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Jordan, Mauritania, and Georgia during November-April (BirdLife International 2018).

Conservation Status:

This species is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

According to the IUCN Red List assessment, the population of this species is declining, with the current population estimate of 50,000-67,000 individuals. The major threat to its persistence comes from secondary poisoning by feeding on poisoned carrions. Other threats to it include habitat disturbance, road-kills and egg-poaching (BirdLife International 2018).