Many people rushed to the island after learning about the appearance of the “divine bird,” hoping to catch a glimpse of this creature before it flew away.
The “Divine Bird” Appears After 155 Years of Absence
On June 14, 2021, Will Wagstaff, a British wildlife expert, decided to venture into the woods on St. Mary’s Island, part of the Scilly Isles, with a group of friends to observe various species of flora and fauna. While strolling through the forest, Will’s group unexpectedly spotted an Egyptian Vulture – a bird dubbed the “divine bird” – perched on a tree. Upon seeing it, Will was overjoyed, as this species had not been seen in England for over 150 years.
Egyptian Vulture, known as the “divine bird” of ancient Egypt. (Photo: Dailymail)
Immediately, Will’s group began capturing the actions of the Egyptian Vulture with their cameras. According to Will Wagstaff’s description, the Egyptian Vulture remained in the treetops for 1.5 hours before taking off and soaring over the skies of St. Mary’s Island.
After reviewing the captured images, Professor Stuart Bearhop, an ecologist at the University of Exeter, stated, “If it is confirmed that this bird is an Egyptian Vulture, it will be the first time this species has returned to England after 155 years. The presence of wild Egyptian Vultures in England is ‘extremely rare.’ Previously, the historical records of this country only officially documented the sighting of the ‘divine bird’ twice: once in Somerset in 1825 and the other in Essex in 1868 after a farmer shot one. This was also the last time an Egyptian Vulture was seen in England.” Indeed, many people flocked to St. Mary’s Island for a chance to see this creature before it departed.
The Egyptian Vulture has not appeared in England for 155 years. (Photo: Pixabay)
What kind of bird is the Egyptian Vulture that attracts so much attention?
The True Origins of the “Divine Bird”
The Egyptian Vulture (scientific name: Neophron percnopterus), also known as the scavenger vulture, is a small vulture belonging to the Old World Vultures group, found from northern Africa to southwestern Asia. It is the only member of the genus Neophron in the family Accipitridae. These birds are migratory depending on climate conditions. If the Egyptian Vulture can withstand winter climates, they typically will not migrate.
Egyptian Vulture, also known as the “divine bird” or “Pharaoh’s chicken,” due to its connection with ancient Egypt. (Photo: Pixabay)
The Egyptian Vulture is referred to as the “divine bird” or “Pharaoh’s chicken” due to its association with ancient Egypt. It was seen as a royal symbol in ancient Egyptian culture and was protected by kings and queens. The Egyptian Vulture also frequently appears in Egyptian hieroglyphs and is one of the few bird species known to use tools when hunting in ancient times.
The “divine bird,” the Egyptian Vulture, is primarily found in dry plains and low hills. It prefers to perch on large, dead branches or cliffs to observe its surroundings. They typically forage alone or in pairs, but when a carcass is discovered, many vultures will soar overhead. While foraging, they rarely make noise, but once they have spotted prey, they emit loud screeches as they approach the carcass.
The “divine bird” Egyptian Vulture prefers to perch on large, dead branches or cliffs to observe. (Photo: Pixabay)
The Egyptian Vulture primarily feeds on carrion and, due to its small size, often waits for scraps left by larger predators (such as Gyps vultures and hyenas). Occasionally, the Egyptian Vulture will hunt small, slow animals and reptiles, especially turtles. This bird often picks up a turtle and drops it from a height onto rocks to break the shell into pieces. Like crows and a few other bird species, the “divine bird” Egyptian Vulture is known to use tools. They often break ostrich eggs by picking up a small stone with their beaks and striking it against the egg with a strong shake of their head and neck.
The average lifespan of the Egyptian Vulture in the wild is about 21 years, while in captivity, they can live up to 37 years. The breeding season typically begins in spring, and they are monogamous birds. Egyptian Vulture nests are usually located on steep cliffs or large branches, lined with twigs and animal feathers. The female lays about 2 eggs per clutch, which are incubated by both parents for approximately 42 days. They often reuse nesting sites for several consecutive years.
The “divine bird” Egyptian Vulture is one of the species that can use tools to break eggs. (Photo: Pixabay)
Like other scavenging and predatory birds, the “divine bird” Egyptian Vulture is threatened by human hunting, climate change, and habitat degradation. They are now sparsely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to India. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified them as “endangered” in the Red List.
The Egyptian Vulture has a body length of approximately 47 – 65 cm, a wingspan 2.7 times its body length, and an average weight of about 1.9 kg to 2.4 kg. The plumage of adult birds is white, with black feathers on the wings. The head is bare and yellow, with a sharply curved black or pink beak. They have short, diamond-shaped tails, and their legs are also pink.
