Andean Condor

Adults have predominantly black plumage with a distinctive white ruff of feathers around the base of the neck and (in males) large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless and dark red to grayish, capable of changing color with emotional state. Males feature a large, dark red caruncle (comb) on top of the head. Immature birds are generally grayish-brown with a darker, scaly-looking head and neck.

Massive size, white ruff around the neck, broad white wing patches (in males), and bald red head.

Length: 100-130 cm (39-51 in), Wingspan: 270-320 cm (9-10.5 ft), Weight: 11-15 kg (24-33 lbs)

Generally silent, but can produce low grunts, hisses, and clucks when feeding or interacting at roosts.

Carrion, primarily large carcasses of domesticated or wild herbivores such as llamas, deer, and cattle.

Open grasslands, alpine areas up to 5,000 meters, and coastal windswept regions where thermals provide soaring lift.

Resident, though individuals may undertake local movements following food sources or weather conditions.

Does not build a nest; lays a single large white egg directly on bare ledges of inaccessible cliffs. Breeds only every other year, with extended parental care.

California Condor (found in North America, lacks the prominent white neck ruff of the adult male Andean Condor in the same way, and has a different geographic range).

As an obligate scavenger, it plays a vital role in cleaning up carrion and preventing the spread of diseases in its ecosystem.

Vulnerable, with populations decreasing due to habitat loss and poisoning.

Look for them soaring on thermal updrafts along cliffs, rocky outcrops, and windy mountainous areas in the morning.

The Andean Condor is a national symbol of several South American nations and features prominently in Andean folklore and mythology. It can soar for hours without flapping its wings thanks to efficient use of thermal currents.