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Glite Dictionary
Egyptian vulture

Egyptian vulture

8.7
A small white vulture with a yellow face and thin bill that lives in Africa and southern Asia
  • noun
translation icon : buitre egipcio
  • Several Egyptian vultures were spotted near the cliffs during migration season.

Examples

  • Look at that Egyptian vulture soaring high in the sky!

  • The Egyptian vulture is easily recognized by its white plumage and yellow face.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the dwindling population of the Egyptian vulture.

  • The Egyptian vulture is known for its striking yellow face.

  • The Egyptian vulture is easily recognized by its distinctive yellow face and slender bill.

  • In the warm sun, the Egyptian vulture spread its wings to dry after a long flight.

  • Researchers observed an Egyptian vulture feeding on carrion in the African grasslands.

Synonyms

Neophron percnopterus
vsEgyptian vulture
  • Specialized
9.9

A small mostly white vulture found in parts of Africa and southern Europe and Asia

is the common everyday name for that species
Pharaoh's chicken
vsEgyptian vulture
9.9

A small white vulture with a yellow face found in Africa and parts of Europe and Asia

is the standard common name rather than a playful name

Surface Forms

Egyptian vulture singular
Egyptian vultures plural

Morphology

Egyptian + vulture

The meaning 'a vulture associated with Egypt' is directly and literally built from 'Egyptian' (of or from Egypt) + 'vulture' (a scavenging bird). This straightforward adjective+noun composition is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the MWE.

Etymology

Egyptian vulture comes from the two words Egyptian and vulture and may come from old Egyptian pictures and stories that show this small white vulture near temples and graves. That's why today Egyptian vulture means the 'small white bird with a yellow face'.