Egyptian Vulture

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is the only member of the genus Neophron. It is widely distributed; the Egyptian vulture is found from southwestern Europe and northern Africa to India. They are the smallest Old World vulture.

Egyptian Vultures scavenge many types of food, but are known for using stones to break open eggs of other birds. Due to their small size, they have difficulty competing with other vultures at carcasses and are often the last to feed. 


In Culture

A southern Indian temple at Thirukalukundram near Chengalpattu was famed for a pair of birds that reputedly visited the temple for "centuries" (even though they do not visit it anymore). These birds were ceremonially fed by the temple priests and arrived before noon to feed on offerings made from rice, wheat, ghee, and sugar. Although normally punctual, the failure of the birds to turn up was attributed to the presence of "sinners" among the onlookers. Legend has it the vultures (or "eagles") represented eight sages who were punished by Shiva, with two of them leaving in each of a series of epochs.