An observation the Indian subspecies of Egyptian Vulture <i>Neophron percnopterus ginginianus</i> in Djibouti

Abstract

No Abstract.

An Egyptian Vulture <i>Neophron percnopterus</i> with largely pale bill in Djibouti

“…Pale (ivory-yellowish) bill is characteristic of the adult birds of the Indian subspecies of the Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus ginginianus, while the rest of this species features dark (grey to black) bills. Recent sightings of two pale-billed birds far from the range of ginginianus, on Socotra (Porter & Suleiman 2012) and in Ethiopia (Angelov et al 2013) respectively, have raised the question on the origin of their unusual coloration. Porter & Suleiman (2012) proposed an abnormal pigmentation for their bird because of unusual colours on its claws, some of which were pale ("white") and others had a black base.…”

“…However, adult ginginianus would also have paler claws than nominate percnopterus according to Ali & Ripley (1968), although Naoroji (2006) does not mention this difference in its list of subspecific characters. Angelov et al (2013) entitled their paper as a possible sighting of the Indian subspecies, an opinion supported by Mundy (2014). Judging from the published photograph of their bird, hereafter referred to as the Ethiopian bird, the claws were dark and the bill mainly pale, but with dark nuances at the tip and near the nostrils.…”

“…Finding a larger proportion of pale-billed birds in Djibouti than elsewhere in Africa would support the existence of an influence from ginginianus. Although the Indian subspecies is currently not seen as migratory as nominate percnopterus, both Angelov et al (2013) and Mundy (2014) proposed that ginginianus individuals might make long-distance movements. In my opinion this is not a necessary condition to have ginginianus-like birds far from the range of the subspecies proper.…”

Bill deformities in Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus percnopterus): a noteworthy record from Rajasthan, India

“…In India, two recognized subspecies are present: Neophron percnopterus percnopterus, widely distributed worldwide, and Neophron percnopterus ginginianus, primarily distributed in India and Nepal. Both the subspecies distributions overlap in northern India and Pakistan (Naoroji 2006;Angelov et al 2013;Mishra et al 2018) and may interbreed (Mishra et al 2018). Naoroji (2006) stated that Neophron percnopterus percnopterus and Neophron percnopterus ginginianus are locally migratory.…”