Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus

The Egyptian vulture is a medium-large sized bird, however their size 55-65 cm with a wingspan of 155-170 cm is small compared to the other old world vultures. Yellow face and bill with a black tip on the bill. Plumage is pale grey with some buff on the head and neck. Flight-feathers (primaries and secondaries) are black. Juveniles are largely dark brown with contrasting area of pale buff.

Egyptian Vulture in flight

Typically Egyptian Vultures roost communally on low cliffs and rocky outcrops, alternative nest sites include buildings and trees. Foraging is done over open often arid country in lowland and montane regions using their sight to detect food. Their main food supply is carrion but they're also know to eat: eggs, organic waste, small prey, mammal faeces and the insects living in faeces. As suggested by its diet this small vulture is een opportunist and is often seen near human settlement.

Young birds can be taken by Golden Eagles, Eagle Owls and Red Fox. Healthy adults have no natural predators.

The European population has declined by over 50% in the last three generations. Iberia supports approximately 50% of the European population with an estimated 1,400 individuals: which indicates a decline of >50% in the last three generations in Iberia.

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bulgaria
• France
• Georgia
• Greece
• Italy
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Macedonia
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Portugal
• Romania
• Serbia
• Spain
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

• Cantabrian mountains

Current distribution Egyptian Vulture
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The Egyptian Vulture is a migratory bird breeding in southern Europe from Spain in the west, through the Mediterranean, the Caucasus and central Asia. These birds winter within the resident range, and in addition throughout the Sahel region of Africa. Currently after a substantial decline throughout the Egyptian Vultures range there are about 3,500-5,600 pairs in Europe and <2,000 pairs in central Asia.

In southern Europe, suggested causes of the decline include poisoning by accumulation of lead, pesticides (especially due to large-scale use in the control of Schistocerca gregaria locust swarms) and by electrocution. Studies in Spain have suggested that the absorption of veterinary antibiotics suppresses their innate immunity, making them more prone to infection.

On a world wide scale the biggest concern in the last decenia was diclofenac; a NSAID that has proven lethal to vulture species. The wide spread use of this drug for veterinary purposes in Asia and Africa was most likely the main cause for the critically declining Egytian Vulture numbers in India (>35% of the population per year) since 1999.

Conservation actions

• The veterinary drug Diclofenac has now been banned by the Indian government.