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Egyptian Vulture

Scientific Name: Neophron percnopterus
Maltese Name: Avultun Abjad
Family: Hawks, vultures and eagles (Accipitridae)
Occurence: Rare
Breeds in Malta: No

Overview:
The Egyptian Vulture is a small Vulture, found widely distributed from southwestern Europe and northern Africa to southern Asia. It is the only living member of the genus Neophron. It has sometimes also been known as the White Scavenger Vulture or Pharaoh's Chicken. The adult plumage is white, with black flight feathers in the wings. The bill is slender and long and the tip of the upper mandible is hooked. The nostril is an elongated horizontal slit. The tail is wedge shaped. The bill is black and the facial skin is yellow and unfeathered. Young birds are blackish or dark brown with black and white patches. This vulture has a wing-span of 1.7m. Like other vultures, it soars on thermals and the underwing black and white pattern and wedge tail make it distinctive. It sometimes uses stones to break the eggs of birds such as ostriches, making it one of the few birds that make use of tools. Some populations in the temperate zone are migratory while tropical populations are relatively sedentary. Populations of this species have declined in the 20th Century and some island populations are particularly endangered.

Status:
Rare. Singles recorded from time to time, mainly in Autumn (September/October). Some records in March and April. Most Egyptian Vultures who pass over Malta are shot when they come down to roost. Latest record of Egyptian Vulture was on 28th September 2009 when a Juvenile birds was recorded from Buskett and Dwejra Malta. The origin of the Egyptian Vultures that visit Malta is unknown, but it is thought that they are individuals from the few that breed in Sicily.

When to See:
Mostly recorded in September and October. Sometimtes seen in Spring.

Where to See:
Mostly seen from Buskett or Dwejra Malta in Autumn as these places are used to monitor raptor migration, but it may be seen from anywhere passing over.

Juvenile Egyptian Vulture, 18th September 1980, Buskett Juvenile Egyptian Vulture, 17th October 2004, Buskett
Juvenile Egyptian Vulture, 28th September 2009, Buskett Juvenile Egyptian Vulture, 28th September 2009, Buskett


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