Egyptian Vulture
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{{Taxobox
| image = Egyptian vulture.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Adult in worn or "painted" plumage
| name = Egyptian Vulture
| status = EN
| status_system = iucn3.1
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = '''''Neophron'''''
| genus_authority = [[Marie Jules César Savigny|Savigny]], [[1809]]
| species = '''''N. percnopterus'''''
| binomial = ''Neophron percnopterus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]])
}}
The '''Egyptian Vulture''' ('''''Neophron percnopterus''''')<ref>Ali & Ripley (1983)</ref> is a small [[Old World vulture]], found from southwestern [[Europe]] and northern [[Africa]] to southern [[Asia]]. It is the only living member of the genus '''''Neophron'''''.<ref>Supposed [[prehistoric]] species from the [[Neogene]] of [[North America]] are now placed in the genus ''[[Neophrontops]]'' (the name meaning "looks like ''Neophron''") These birds probably were almost identical to the Egyptian Vulture in lifestyle, but do not seem to have been closely related at all.</ref> In [[South Asia|Southern Asia]] this species is called the '''Scavenger Vulture'''.
<hiero>A</hiero>
In [[Ancient Egypt]], the vulture [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyph]] was the [[Egyptian uniliteral signs|uniliteral sign]] used for the glottal sound (''3'') including words such as ''mother'', ''prosperous'', ''grandmother'', and ''ruler''.
In [[Egypt]] it is called the '''Pharaoh’s Chicken''' for two reasons. It looks somewhat like a scruffy white [[chicken]] in fresh plumage, and the relationship to the [[pharaoh]] is because this bird was the symbol of perhaps, the oldest [[deity]] of southern [[Ancient Egypt]], [[Nekhbet]], who was considered the protector of the pharaoh, royalty, and Egypt and always shown with her extended wings. They referred to the bird as the ''Mother of Mothers, who hath existed from the Beginning'' and ''creator of the world''. This vulture always was seen on the front of the pharaoh’s crown. After the unification of Egypt both she and [[Wadjet]] (another early goddess in the [[Egyptian pantheon]] who had the same role in southern Egypt) shared the location of the protecting deity on the new double crown that was worn by the pharaohs of every [[Egyptian dynasties|dynasty]] thereafter. The nurturing behavior of these vultures while rearing their young led to the selection of the species as a model parent and their lack of [[sexual dimorphism]] led the Ancient Egyptians to think, mistakenly, that they were all female and reproducing through [[parthenogenesis]].
==Description==
[[Image:Neophron percnopterus.JPG|thumb|left|Adult in fresh plumage]]
[[Image:NeophronGould.jpg|thumb|left|Immature (behind) and adult<br/>From [[John Gould]]'s ''Birds of Europe'']]
The adult Egyptian Vulture usually measures 85 cm from the point of the beak to the extremity of the tail and 1.7 meters between the tips of the wings. It weighs about 2.1 kilograms.
The adult [[plumage]] is white, with some black feathers in the wings and tail. Due to its habits—stalking around carcasses on usually dusty ground to wait for its turn—the plumage dulls quickly, and birds before [[moult]] are beige rather than pure white. Also, individuals occasionally seem to "paint" themselves with soil containing [[iron oxide]], as [[Lammergeier]]s do, turning their plumage a pinkish buff; hence the [[German (language)|German]] name ''Schmutzgeier'' ("dirt-vulture"). Its facial skin is yellow, turning orange during nesting periods, and is devoid of [[feathers]]. The tail is [[diamond (shape)|diamond]]-shaped, so it is easily distinguished in flight.
The nestlings are dark brown and gradually become light until they reach adulthood at the age of five.
== Distribution ==
[[Image:Egyptian vulture in flight.jpg|thumb|An Egyptian vulture in flight]]
[[Image:Egptian Vultures I2-Haryana IMG 8921.jpg|thumb|Two Egyptian vultures flying low at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]]]]
Egyptian Vultures are quite widely distributed and may be found in Southern [[Europe]], in Northern [[Africa]], and in [[West Asia|Western]] and [[South Asia|Southern Asia]].
They are partial migrants, depending on the local climate.
If an Egyptian Vulture can endure the local winter, it usually will not migrate. The species is not well adapted for cold weather conditions due to its rather small size (''see also'' [[Bergmann's Rule]]).
== Food ==
Egyptian Vultures are [[scavenger]]s, mainly feeding off [[carrion]], but they also prey on small [[mammals]] and eggs. Due to its relatively small size, it needs to wait until other scavengers (such as the larger ''[[Gyps]]'' vultures, [[hyenas]], and [[lion]]s) finish their meal before it may start feeding. Its head and beak are well fitted for this situation. As with other vultures, it is believed that the bare skin prevents food from sticking to it. Using its long beak, an Egyptian Vulture can tear off small pieces of meat left by larger scavengers. The thin beak also can fit through narrow spaces between bones to get food that large-beaked vultures cannot reach.
==Use of tools==
Along with and a few other birds, the Egyptian Vulture is one of the [[:Category:Tool-using species|species that are known to use tools]]. It uses small rocks to crack thick-shelled [[ostrich]] eggs by lifting a stone with its beak and hitting the egg in a strong swing of head and neck. Presumably, this is [[culture|culturally-learned]], by observing others in the social group. This is very effective in survival for the Egyptian vulture.
== Nesting ==
The Egyptian Vulture reaches sexual maturity at the age of five and breeds in the same manner as most other [[birds of prey]]. They mate for life. The nests are built in areas of cliffs and slopes on inaccessible ledges or niches in rocky walls. Both the male and the female take part in the nest construction. They use branches for the frame and upholster it with garbage and food remains (skeletons of small mammals, [[turtle]] shells, etc.). They carry the nesting materials in their beaks, unlike most other [[Bird of prey|raptor]]s, who use their talons instead. The nest is reupholstered continually during the nesting and brooding period. The female lays two white eggs with dark brown spots (measurements: 94 grams in weight, 65x55 millimeter length and width) with a few days interval between them. This usually occurs between the end of March and the end of April.
==Status==
The Egyptian Vulture is declining in large parts of its range, often severely. In Europe and most of the [[Middle East]], it is half as plentiful as it was about twenty years ago, and the populations in [[India]] and southwestern [[Africa]] have collapsed entirely. In the case of India, this apparently is attributable to the widespread use of the [[NSAID]] [[Diclofenac]] in [[veterinary medicine]], which enters the [[food chain]] of the species; the drug is extremely poisonous to vultures. Consequently, it was uplisted from a species of Least Concern to Endangered status in the 2007 [[IUCN Red List]].<ref>See BirdLife International (2007a,b).</ref>
==Footnotes==
<references/>
==References==<!-- BirdConservInt14:203 -->
* {{aut|[[Salim Ali (ornithologist)|Ali, Salim]] & [[Sidney Dillon Ripley]]}} (1983): ''Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, 2nd ed.'' vol.1, #186: p.310. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
* {{IUCN2006|assessors={{aut|BirdLife International}}|year=2004|id=49339|title=Neophron percnopterus|downloaded=9 May 2006}}
* {{aut|BirdLife International}} (2007a): [ [http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html 2006-2007 Red List status changes] ]. Retrieved 2007-AUG-26.
* {{aut|BirdLife International}} (2007b): [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3371&m=0 Egyptian Vulture - BirdLife Species Factsheet]. Retrieved 2007-AUG-28.
==External links==
{{commons|Neophron percnopterus}}
* [http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2470.htm BTO BirdFacts - Egyptian Vulture]
* [http://www.foundationtv.co.uk/brilliantcreatures/ser5/show8item2.html A photo story on how the Egyptian Vulture can crack an Ostrich egg]
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Hodal I IMG 5790.jpg| at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]].
Image:Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Hodal I IMG 5789.jpg| at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]].
Image:Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at Bharatpur I IMG 5366.jpg| at [[Keoladeo National Park]], [[Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].
Image:Egptian Vultures I2 IMG 8918.jpg| at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]].
Image:Egptian Vulture I IMG 8925.jpg| at [[Hodal]] in [[Faridabad]] District of [[Haryana]], [[India]].
Image:Egptian Vulture Im IMG 8688.jpg| at [[Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].
Image:Egptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 7542.jpg| in [[Hyderabad, India]].
</gallery>
[[Category:Old World vultures]]
[[Category:Genera of birds]]
[[Category:Tool-using species]]
[[Category:Birds of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds of Asia]]
[[Category:Birds of Africa]]
[[af:Egiptiese aasvoël]]
[[ar:رخمة مصرية]]
[[bg:Египетски лешояд]]
[[ca:Aufrany]]
[[cs:Sup mrchožravý]]
[[de:Schmutzgeier]]
[[es:Neophron percnopterus]]
[[eo:Kadavrogrifo]]
[[fr:Percnoptère]]
[[it:Neophron percnopterus]]
[[he:רחם (עוף)]]
[[hu:Dögkeselyű]]
[[nl:Aasgier]]
[[ja:エジプトハゲワシ]]
[[no:Åtselgribb]]
[[pl:Ścierwnik biały]]
[[pt:Abutre-do-egito]]
[[ru:Стервятник]]
[[sl:Egiptovski jastreb]]
[[fi:Pikkukorppikotka]]
[[sv:Smutsgam]]
[[vi:Kền kền Ai Cập]]
[[tr:Mısır akbabası]]
[[uk:Стерв'ятник]]