Egyptian Vulture

Meet the Egyptian Vulture!

The Egyptian vulture is the smallest vulture in the Old World. As with other vultures, it flies with agility, circling in the air; on the ground, however, it is more ungainly and moves with greater difficulty.

Adult specimens have off-white plumage, except for the wing tips, which are black, and a bare yellow face.

What are its habits?

They are able to use a stone as a tool to break ostrich eggs and feed themselves (although this particular way of obtaining food is only practiced in certain regions, so it is not known if this ability is learned or congenital). Egyptian vultures eatcarrion, eggs, insects, small vertebrates and even feces. As for reproduction, incubation lasts about 40 days (one or two eggs are laid).

Conservation

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated

DID YOU KNOW ...

The Egyptian Vulture is mainly a summer bird in Spain, although there are permanent populations in the Balearic and Canary Islands. From mid-July to October they cross the Strait of Gibraltar to spend the winter in different regions of sub-Saharan Africa.