Species profile

Name: Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a large South American bird in the New World vulture family.

Appearance: condors are large black birds with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and change colour in response to the bird’s emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb on the crown of the head.

Size: they are the largest flying bird in the world by combined weight and wingspan – with a maximum wingspan of 3.3 metres and weight of 15 kg. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female.

Diet: like other vultures they are primarily scavengers, feeding on carrion.

Did you know: the Andean condor has been represented in Andean art since 2,500 BCE. In Andean mythology, the condor was associated with the sun deity, and was believed to be the ruler of the upper world. The condor is considered a symbol of power and health by many Andean cultures, and it was believed that the bones and organs of the condor possessed medicinal powers.

Location: they are found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America.

Where to see Andean condors

According to reports submitted to WildSide, you can see Andean condors in the following places:

Photo credit: jmarti20, under a Creative Commons license from Pixabay