About the Egyptian Vulture
The Egyptian vulture, also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is a small Old World vulture in the monotypic genus Neophron. It is widely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, West Asia and India. The contrasting underwing pattern and wedge-shaped tail make it distinctive in flight as it soars in thermals during the warmer parts of the day. Egyptian vultures feed mainly on carrion but are opportunistic and will prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They also feed on the eggs of other birds, breaking larger ones by tossing a large pebble onto them.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The adult's plumage is white, with black flight feathers in the wings. Wild birds usually appear soiled with a rusty or brown shade to the white plumage, derived from mud or iron-rich soil. Captive specimens without access to soil have clean white plumage. It has been suggested as a case of cosmetic colouration. The bill is slender and long, and the tip of the upper mandible is hooked. The nostril is an elongated horizontal slit. The neck feathers are long and form hackles. The wings are pointed, with the third primary being the longest; the tail is wedge shaped.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Egyptian Vulture sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Norway, South Africa, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Gambia, Zambia, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Germany, Denmark, Moldova, Montenegro.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Zone-tailed HawkButeo albonotatusThe zone-tailed hawk is a fairly large but slender Buteo hawk.
Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillarisThe adult black-shouldered kite is around 35 cm (14 in) in length, with a wingspan of between 80 and 100 cm (31 and 39 in).
White-backed VultureGyps africanusThe white-backed vulture is a typical vulture, with only down feathers on the head and neck, very broad wings and short tail feathers.
Side by side: Black-shouldered Kite vs Egyptian Vulture · Egyptian Vulture vs Zone-tailed Hawk · Egyptian Vulture vs White-backed Vulture
Learn the Egyptian Vulture for real
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