The Egyptian Vulture, also known as the Scavenger Vulture, the Neophron and Pharaoh’s Chicken, is a widespread breeding resident in small numbers. The resident race is the yellow-billed ginginianus, but the grey-billed nominate race also appears in small numbers in winter. It nests from late January to May, mainly on monuments and ruins. In our area it is seldom colonial as the pairs seem to be widely scattered. It feeds mainly on dead animals but also scavenges rubbish dumps. Thus it is equally at home in the town as in the country. It is most often seen soaring, looking for food. It seems to have a liking for bare open areas including fallow fields, where they may be encountered sitting around resting, or walking about pecking at the ground, possibly for insects.

Juveniles are browner than adults but with the same characteristic shape. Urban birds are rarely the sparkling white that many books illustrate. Instead, they are a grubby grey, presumably from soiling in the rubbish dumps.