California Condor

Critically Endangered

Gymnogyps californianus

Once on the brink of extinction, the California Condor's comeback story is a testament to dedicated conservation efforts.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The California Condor is a huge bird with a nearly featherless, reddish-orange head and neck. Its body is covered in black feathers, with distinctive white triangular patches under its wings visible during flight.

Both males and females share similar appearances, with no significant sexual dimorphism. Juveniles can be distinguished by their darker heads and lack of white underwing patches until they reach maturity at about 5-6 years old.

Size

Length

109cm to 140cm

Wingspan

270cm to 300cm

Weight

7.7kg to 14kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black

Secondary Colour

White Pink

Beak Colour

Ivory

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

Garden

Wetland

Coastal

Urban

Farmland

Grassland

Desert

Tundra

Rainforest

Mountain

Savanna

Distribution

California Condors inhabit rugged, open country, including mountains, canyons, and coastal areas. They require vast territories with suitable nesting sites in caves or on cliff faces, as well as open areas for foraging.

Once widespread across North America, their current range is limited to parts of California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California, Mexico. Reintroduction efforts continue to expand their distribution within these regions.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Mediterranean, Semi-arid

Distribution Map

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Resident

Distribution by Region

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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85
Strength 90
Adaptability 70
Aggressiveness 40
Endurance 95

Diet

California Condors are obligate scavengers, feeding primarily on large mammal carcasses such as deer, cattle, and marine mammals. They locate food by sight and can travel up to 150 miles daily searching for carrion.

Their strong beaks and digestive systems allow them to consume and process tough animal tissues and bones.

Behaviour

California Condors are highly social, often feeding in groups and engaging in communal roosting. They spend hours soaring on thermal updrafts, covering vast distances in search of carrion.

These birds exhibit unique 'urohydrosis,' where they urinate on their legs to cool themselves and disinfect their feet after walking through carcasses.

Vocalisation

California Condors are generally silent birds, lacking a syrinx (vocal organ). They communicate through hisses, grunts, and snorts, especially when defending feeding sites or during courtship. Nestlings may produce a high-pitched call when begging for food.

Nesting & Breeding

California Condors form long-term pair bonds and typically breed every other year. Courtship involves aerial displays and mutual preening, usually beginning in late fall or early winter.

Nests are minimal, often located in caves or on cliff ledges. Females lay a single egg, which is pale blue-green in color. Both parents share incubation duties.

The incubation period lasts about 56-58 days. Chicks remain in the nest for 5-6 months before fledging and continue to depend on their parents for up to a year after leaving the nest.

Lifespan

Typical Lifespan Range 45 - 60 years
Max Recorded Lifespan 45 years [1]
0
16
31
47
62

years

The California Condor typically lives for 45 to 60 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 45 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Critically Endangered [2]

The California Condor remains critically endangered due to lead poisoning, habitat loss, and human disturbance.

Intensive captive breeding and reintroduction programs have brought the species back from the brink of extinction, with continued efforts focusing on expanding their range and reducing threats in the wild.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

222 individuals [3]

Global Population Trend

Increasing[4]

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for them soaring high in the sky over rugged terrain
  • Visit known release sites in California, Arizona, or Utah
  • Observe from a distance to avoid disturbing these sensitive birds
  • Look for numbered wing tags used for identification in conservation programs
  • Best viewing times are mid-morning when thermals begin to form

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Condor, California Vulture, Thunderbird

Family:

Cathartidae

Predators

Adult California Condors have few natural predators due to their size, but golden eagles may occasionally attack them. Eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to ravens, golden eagles, and various mammalian predators.

Did You Know?

  1. California Condors can go up to two weeks without eating.
  2. They have the longest lifespan of any North American bird, potentially living up to 60 years in the wild. The oldest captive bird lived for at least 70 years in the Moscow Zoo.
  3. In 1987, the last wild California Condor was captured for a captive breeding program, leaving no birds in the wild until reintroduction began in 1992.

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References

  1. 2 4

    website: BirdLife International. 2020. Gymnogyps californianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22697636A181151405.

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  2. 3

    website, 2022: Partners in Flight

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  3. 1

    website, 2000: Carey and Judge, Longevity Records: Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish

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