The contrasting underwing pattern and wedge-shaped tail make it distinctive in flight as it soars in thermals during the warmer parts of the day.

Egyptian vultures feed mainly on carrion but are opportunistic and will prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

The use of tools is rare in birds and apart from the use of a pebble as a hammer, Egyptian vultures also use twigs to roll up wool for use in their nest.

Egyptian vultures that breed in the temperate regions migrate south in winter while tropical populations are relatively sedentary.

[3] The genus Neophron was created by Jules-César Savigny in the first natural history volume of the Description de l'Égypte' (1809).

A few prehistoric species from the Neogene period in North America placed in the genus Neophrontops (the name meaning "looks like Neophron") are believed to have been very similar to these vultures in lifestyle, but the genetic relationships are unclear.

[7] The genus Neophron is considered to represent the oldest branch of the vultures which consists of separated (or polyphyletic) clades.

[8] Along with its nearest evolutionary relatives, the lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) and the palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis), they are sometimes placed in a separate subfamily, the Gypaetinae.

[9][10] There are three widely recognised subspecies of the Egyptian vulture, although there is considerable gradation due to movement and intermixing of the populations.

[11] The nominate subspecies, N. p. percnopterus, with a dark grey bill, has the largest range, occurring in southern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and north-western India.

The sexes are indistinguishable in plumage but breeding males have a deeper orange facial skin colour than females.

[37][38][26] In summer, some African birds fly further north into Europe and vagrants have been recorded in England,[39][40] Ireland,[41] and southern Sweden.

[38] Fossils of the Egyptian vulture found in the Nefud Desert of Saudi Arabia are estimated to date to the Middle Pleistocene about 500,000 years ago.

[43] The Egyptian vulture is usually seen singly or in pairs, soaring in thermals along with other scavengers and birds of prey, or perched on the ground or atop a building.

The carotenoids (primarily lutein) that the vultures absorb from the vegetal matter in the excrement that they ingest results in their bright yellow face colouration.

[49] Studies suggest that they feed on ungulate faeces to obtain carotenoid pigments responsible for their bright yellow and orange facial skin.

Egyptian vultures are mostly silent but make high-pitched mewing or hissing notes at the nest and screeching noises when squabbling at a carcass.

[28] During the beginning of the breeding season, courting pairs soar high together and one or both may make steep spiralling or swooping dives.

The nest is an untidy platform of twigs lined with rags and placed on a cliff ledge,[56] building, or the fork of a large tree.

[57][58][59] Extra-pair copulation with neighbouring birds has been recorded and may be a reason for adult males to stay close to the female before and during the egg laying period.

[38][37] After migrating back to their breeding areas, young birds move widely in search of good feeding territories and mates.

[71] Another case of tool-use described from Bulgaria involves the use of a twig as a tool to roll up and gather strands of wool to use for lining the nest.

[82] In Spain, which holds about 50% of the European population suggested causes of decline include poisoning by accumulation of lead,[83] pesticides (especially due to large-scale use in the control of Schistocerca gregaria locust swarms), and electrocution.

[87] A shortage of carrion resulting from new rules for disposal of dead animals following the outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis in parts of Europe during 2000 may have also had an effect on some populations.

[31] The population of Egyptian vultures in the Canary Islands has been isolated from those in Europe and Africa for a significant period of time leading to genetic differentiation.

[89] The Canarian Egyptian vulture was historically common, occurring on the islands of La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote.

However, these interventions may also encourage other opportunist predators and scavengers to concentrate at the site and pose a threat to vultures nesting in the vicinity.

[92] Since 2012, conservation efforts have been implemented to protect Egyptian vultures along breeding grounds, migration routes and wintering areas of the eastern European population; these measures include monitoring, nest guarding, supplementary feeding, insulating hazardous electric power lines and removing poison baits and carcasses with trained dogs.

The use of the vulture as a symbol of royalty in Egyptian culture and their protection by Pharaonic law made the species common on the streets of Egypt and gave rise to the name "pharaoh's chicken".

These birds were ceremonially fed by the temple priests and arrived before noon to feed on offerings made from rice, wheat, ghee, and sugar.