Egyptian Vulture

Latin Name: 
Neophron percnopterus
Category: 
Size: 
65cm
Description: 

Sexes alike. White plumage; blackish in wings; naked yellow head, neck and throat; yellow bill; thick ruff of feathers around neck; wedge-shaped tail and blackish flight feathers distinctive in overhead flight. The nominate race of NW India is slightly larger and has a dark horny bill. Several usually together, perched atop ruins, earthen mounds or just walking on ground; glides a lot but rarely soars high; sometimes with other vultures.

Habitat: 
open country; vicinity of human habitation.
Food: 
refuse, carrion, insects, stranded turtles, the bird being specially adept at opening live turtles
Distribution: 
all India; plains to about 2,000m in the Himalaya.
Call: 
Call Description: 
usually silent.
IUCN: 
National Status: