What is the difference between the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus percnopterus) and the Palm-Nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)?
Both the Egyptian Vulture and the Palm-Nut Vulture are large raptors and birds of prey with large, strong beaks and feet with sharp claws called talons.
The Egyptian Vulture is all white with long neck feathers, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture is all white except for black areas in its wings and tail.
The Egyptian Vulture has a yellow face without feathers, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture has a red patch around each eye.
The Egyptian Vulture has dark eyes, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture has yellow eyes.
The Egyptian Vulture has a dark hooked beak, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture has a light-grey beak.
The Egyptian Vulture has pink legs, with slightly webbed third and fourth toes, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture has pink-red legs with no webbed feet.
The Egyptian Vulture is slightly larger than the Palm-Nut Vulture. The Egyptian Vulture measures 47–65 centimetres (19–26 inches), whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture measures about 60 centimetres (24 inches).
The female Egyptian Vulture usually lays two eggs, which hatch after about 42 days, whereas the female Palm-Nut Vulture lays one egg, which hatches after 28-42 days.
The Egyptian Vulture is a scavenger, feeding on the meat of dead animals or hunting small mammals (such as rabbits), birds, and reptiles, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture feeds mainly on fruit from palm trees.
The Egyptian Vulture is found in more locations in the world than Palm-Nut Vultures. The Egyptian Vulture is found in southern Europe, northern Africa (especially Egypt), the Middle East, central Asia, and north-west India, whereas the Palm-Nut Vulture is found in coastal areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM