Page 126 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Neophron percnopterus
Egyptian Vulture
thin
yellow face bill
black
wingtips older immature gains untidy ruff of
white with age
spiky feathers
white dark brown body dirty white
forewings body
white narrow
tail head brownish across
pale upperwings
feet
ADULT
JUVENILE
IN FLIGHT

FLIGHT: magnificent soaring; occasional deep, slow
wingbeat.
f the European vultures, this is
Othe smallest, more the size of
a medium-sized eagle but markedly
larger than the buzzards. In pattern, ADULT
however, adults have the black and white
of White Storks (see p.85) or pelicans (see p.411),
which are much bigger. Immatures are browner but
spend their early years in Africa, and so are rather
infrequently seen in Europe. On the ground, the
plumage of an adult often looks dirty and drab, soiled
by its foraging in filthy places, but against a blue sky, it
is a splendid bird.Two or three Egyptian Vultures may
often be seen associating with larger numbers of
Griffon Vultures.
VOICE Silent. GLORIOUS FLIGHT
NESTING Nest of sticks, bones, and rubbish, on cliff While often dirty-looking on the ground, the Egyptian Vulture against
ledge or in small cave; 1–3 eggs; 1 brood;April–June. a deep blue sky in full sunlight looks stunning, almost translucent white
FEEDING Finds all kinds of dead meat,offal,and scraps. and intense black.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Summer visitor to Portugal and
extended GOLDEN EAGLE Spain, rare in S France, S Italy, and
neck similar to juvenile Balkans. In wooded mountainous
in flight; see p.126
areas, around gorges and cliffs,
and also at refuse tips near small
square tail
towns and villages, often with
kites and larger vultures.
larger
WHITE STORK Seen in the UK
similar in flight; see p.85 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 55–65cm (22–26in) Wingspan 1.55–1.7m (5–5 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 1.6–2.1kg (3 1 ⁄2 –4 3 ⁄4lb)
Social Small flocks Lifespan 10–15 years Status Secure
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