The laborious and ingenious Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) (18 Pics)

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The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), also called the White Scavenger Vulture or Pharaoh's Chicken, is a small Old World vulture and the only member of the genus Neophron.

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.

In Ancient Egypt, the vulture hieroglyph was the uniliteral sign. The Bible makes a reference to the Egyptian Vulture under the Hebrew name of rachamah/racham. The bird was held sacred to Isis in the ancient Egyptian religion. 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"

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Vulture