Pharaoh’s Chicken

• The Pharaoh’s chicken was the ancient Egyptian term for the Egyptian vulture.
• It was a Royal Bird protected under Egyptian Law.

Symbol of Royalty

• They were a symbol of Royalty in Ancient Egypt and held sacred to Isis. As such they were protected under Pharaonic law and were a common sight in Egyptian towns.
• Which is how they became known as the Pharaoh’s chicken.
• The vulture symbol was used in the Hieroglyphic Alphabet

Habitat

• South western Europe, Northern Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, India.

Migration

• The population living in cooler climates migrate south, but not populations already living further south.
• The routes are from Spain across the Straits of Gibraltar into Morocco, From Italy across Sicily and Pantelleria into Tunisia, and from Turkey down through the Levant.

Food

• Carrion and small animals or birds. They will also eat dung.

Use of tools

• They will use pebbles to break open bird’s eggs, and twigs to roll wool for their nests.