Video 1.mp4 (29.45 MB)
Egyptian vulture mud bathing I
Example of typical mud bathing behaviour (adult female and a third year bird). Most birds first scratch the mud before they swipe both sides of the head in the red soil. Note the general interest in the mud as also shown by the two birds taking a mud bath simultaneously. The bird walking away at the start of the video (20H, adult male) will return to take a mud bath after the more dominant adult female leaves the bowl. Also note the 'yawn' when the adult bird finished mud bathing, which we interpret as an expression of satisfaction. Video taken 25-8-2016, 12:19 by T. van Overveld.