Family:
The Egyptian vulture is one of the world’s smallest vultures and the only migratory European vulture. It is white all over with long, black flight feathers, but often appears reddish-brown due to its habit of rubbing itself in iron-rich mud.
It has long white neck feathers which form a plume on the back of its head, while its yellow face is bare down to its throat. It has a long, slender bill with a black, hooked tip, and long straight claws with slight webbing between the third and fourth toes.
Male and female Egyptian vultures are similar, but the female is slightly larger and heavier. In breeding season, the facial skin in males turns a deep orange yellow.
Try our interactive bird identifier
Egyptian vultures are opportunistic feeders and eat mainly carrion, but will also eat plant matter, small animals including wild rabbits, insects in dung, and mammal faeces. Landfills are an important food source and they often occupy territories nearby.
Egyptian vultures are widely distributed across southern Europe, northern Africa, and western and southern Asia. They are found on dry plains and deserts and nest mainly on rocky cliffs, although they will sometimes use the ledges of tall buildings and trees.
They spend their winters on the southern edge of the Sahara near grassland and habitation.
