California Condor

Gymnogyps californianus

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

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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

The California Condor is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The California Condor is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The California Condor is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The California Condor is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The California Condor is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The California Condor is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The California Condor can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The California Condor is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The California Condor is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The California Condor is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The California Condor can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The California Condor is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a California Condor. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons