Andean condor
Quick Summary
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is one of two species of large New World vultures, distinguished by its impressive size and soaring flight. It is a black bird with white wing feathers, a white neck fringe, and a bare red head and neck. Males also possess a distinctive fleshy protuberance on their forehead.
These condors inhabit the Andes Mountains of South America, often found in open country. They are adept at soaring on thermals and winds, capable of gliding for extended distances without flapping their wings. Their diet consists primarily of carcasses, including marine animals found along the Pacific coast. While relatively common in the southern parts of their range, Andean condors are considered near threatened, with approximately 6,700 adults remaining. They typically breed every other year, nesting on remote ledges or in caves at high altitudes.1
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