Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
On the Road to Bogol Manyo, Ethiopia
17 January 2014
In contrast to the other species of vulture we saw in Ethiopia, Egyptian Vulture seemed delicate and almost un-vulture like. In flight it flapped more noticeably than other vultures and soared effortlessly on flat, outstretched wings. Due to its small size it is always on the periphery of a kill waiting for an opportunity to dart in and snatch whatever scraps it can. It is an opportunistic feeder, frequenting garbage dumps where they exist, consuming organic waste, insects and sometimes the young of smaller birds. It is known for its habit of dropping rocks onto the eggs of bigger species to crack the shell and gain access to the contents.
