Egyptian Vulture

The Egyptian Vulture is a small, easily recognised bird that feeds on dead animals. It has mainly white feathers with black feathers on its wings. Adult birds have a bare yellow face and a thin, hooked beak that helps them pick at dead animals. Its tail is shaped like a wedge, which is noticeable when it flies. Young birds are darker brown and slowly grow their adult feathers over several years. This bird lives in open areas, rocky places, and dry landscapes across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. It is rarely seen in Britain but is more common around the Mediterranean and further afield. The Egyptian Vulture is known for being clever, especially because it uses stones to break open eggs. It often visits rubbish tips, slaughterhouses, and places where dead animals are found, usually feeding on leftovers from bigger vultures. The species is becoming more at risk because its natural homes are being lost and because of poisoning in many parts of its range.