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Photo: Rod Waddington / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 2.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Accipitriformes
  3. Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
  4. Genus Neophron
  5. Species percnopterus

Where it lives

Western AF to India, southern Spain to central Asia

Quick facts

Weight
2.1 kg
Diet
Scavengers
Family
Accipitridae

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Egyptian Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Egyptian Vulture is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL, OR w AF to India, s Spain to c Asia.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.1 kg, with a wing length of about 49.1 cm and a tail of around 24.7 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14.1 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Egyptian Vulture — Call

Recorded by Mischa Keijmel Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Egyptian Vulture?

The Egyptian Vulture is a very large bird that weighs around 2.1 kg.

Where does the Egyptian Vulture live?

The Egyptian Vulture is found across Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AF, PAL, OR w AF to India, s Spain to c Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Egyptian Vulture belong to?

The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.

What does the Egyptian Vulture eat?

The Egyptian Vulture feeds largely by scavenging carrion.

Does the Egyptian Vulture migrate?

The Egyptian Vulture is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Egyptian Vulture endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Egyptian Vulture make?

1 real field recording of the Egyptian Vulture — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Egyptian Vulture's range?

The Egyptian Vulture has a mapped global range of about 14.1 million km².

Conservation

Endangered

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.

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