Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus


Classification

  • Order : Accipitriformes
  • Family : Accipitridae
  • Genus : Neophron
  • Species : percnopterus

Binomial name

  • Linnaeus, 1758

Biometrics

  • Size: 70 cm
  • Wingspan : 146 to 175 cm
  • Weight : 1600 to 2200

Longevity

37 years


Vocalisation

XC : Manuel Grosselet

The Egyptian vulture is not mute but its sound emissions are not very audible. It produces them during interactions with other individuals of the same species. They are whistles, meows, rolls and other scratched calls.

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IUCN CONSERVATION STATUS


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IDENTIFICATION

Formerly called Egyptian Vulture, the Egyptian Vulture is a small vulture whose dominant colors are black and white as an adult. Males and females are similar. The body is white, more or less tinged with russet. White and also tinged with russet the tail is wedge-shaped. The aspect of the wings differs above and below. The bottom is very contrasted, white in front with the black remiges in the back. The top is more complex, less bicolored. In front, the coverts are white, tinged with russet brown. The primary covers are black. As for the remiges, they present each one a broad pale zone which contributes to the paleness of the top. The head presents a bare yellow face where the eyes and the auditory holes appear well. The long hooked beak is blackish with a yellow wax pierced nostrils. The legs are pink.
The juvenile is very different in appearance. Its plumage is chocolate brown. The front of its head is very pale, whitish and its legs are light pink. The plumage will gradually fade with age until sexual maturity at 4-6 years.

HABITAT

The Egyptian Vulture is found in open, dry or arid environments of the Old World, mainly at low altitudes but locally up to 3,000 m. Steppes, semi-deserts, savannahs, grasslands, cultivated areas, wetland margins, coastlines, loose and deprived urban areas and their periphery are used for foraging.
For nesting, like other vultures, it seeks essentially the steep rocky environments that can host the nest, essentially the rocky ledges of cliffs.

Threats – protection

The Egyptian Vulture is found in open, dry or arid environments of the Old World, mainly at low altitudes but locally up to 3,000 m. Steppes, semi-deserts, savannahs, grasslands, cultivated areas, wetland margins, coastlines, loose and deprived urban areas and their periphery are used for foraging.
For nesting, like other vultures, it seeks essentially the steep rocky environments that can host the nest, essentially the rocky ledges of cliffs.

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