Egyptian Vulture
The Egyptian Vulture is a small Old World vulture. 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 which is derived from mud or iron-rich soil. The bill is slender and long and the tip of the upper mandible is hooked. The neck feathers are long and form a hackle. The wings are pointed and the tail is wedge shaped. 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.
The Egyptian Vulture is widely distributed across the Old World with their breeding range extending from southern Europe to northern Africa and east to western and southern Asia. Most Egyptian Vultures in the temperate zone migrate south to Africa in winter. Like many other large soaring migrants, they avoid making long crossings over water. Italian birds cross over through Sicily and into Tunisia making short sea crossings by passing through the islands of Marettimo and Pantelleria and those that migrate through the Iberian Peninsula cross into Africa over the Strait of Gibraltar while others cross further east through the Levant.
The Egyptian Vulture nests mainly on rocky cliffs and in large trees.
Egyptian Vulture populations have declined in most parts of their range due to hunting, accidental poisoning and collision with power lines and wind farms.
Date: 27th April 2012
Location: La Tajadilla, Parque Nacional de Monfragüe, Extremadura, Spain
The Egyptian Vulture is widely distributed across the Old World with their breeding range extending from southern Europe to northern Africa and east to western and southern Asia. Most Egyptian Vultures in the temperate zone migrate south to Africa in winter. Like many other large soaring migrants, they avoid making long crossings over water. Italian birds cross over through Sicily and into Tunisia making short sea crossings by passing through the islands of Marettimo and Pantelleria and those that migrate through the Iberian Peninsula cross into Africa over the Strait of Gibraltar while others cross further east through the Levant.
The Egyptian Vulture nests mainly on rocky cliffs and in large trees.
Egyptian Vulture populations have declined in most parts of their range due to hunting, accidental poisoning and collision with power lines and wind farms.
Date: 27th April 2012
Location: La Tajadilla, Parque Nacional de Monfragüe, Extremadura, Spain
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Also in: South and west Spain - April and May 2012
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