# California Condor (*Gymnogyps californianus*) The California Condor is a massive bird with black feathers and a bald head. It soars high in the sky, using its keen eyesight to find food. These majestic birds are known for their impressive wingspan. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![California Condor](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426639/objects/5955.jpg) ## Appearance The California Condor is North America's largest land bird, featuring entirely black feathers, striking white triangular patches under its wings, and a distinctive bald head that shifts from pinkish-orange to reddish-purple. Its immense size and unique head coloration make it easily distinguishable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Cathartidae - **Genus:** Gymnogyps ## Interesting facts - A condor pair raises just one chick at a time, caring for it for over a year! - Condors don't have vocal cords, so they communicate with hisses and grunts! - Their bald heads blush and change color when they feel excited or threatened! - These magnificent birds can soar up to 15,000 feet high in the sky! ## Special abilities - **Thermal Navigator:** California Condors can expertly ride warm air currents that helps them soar effortlessly for hours without flapping their wings. - **Superior Spotter:** California Condors have incredibly sharp eyesight that helps them spot tiny carrion from very high altitudes. - **Nature's Cleanup Crew:** California Condors possess strong, hooked beaks that help them tear through the tough hides of dead animals. - **Head Thermostat:** California Condors have a bald head because it helps them regulate their body temperature while feeding or soaring. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 109-140 cm - **Wingspan:** 270-310 cm - **Weight:** 7-14 kg - **Lifespan:** 45-60 years - **Speed:** 90 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 53-60 days ## Diet & Feeding These giant birds are nature's cleanup crew, feasting only on the dead bodies of large animals! - **Primary Foods:** deer carcasses, cattle carcasses, pig carcasses, sheep carcasses, sea lion carcasses, whale carcasses - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — scavenges dead bodies - **Eats:** Domestic Cattle (*Bos taurus*) — cleans up fallen livestock - **Eats:** California Sea Lion (*Zalophus californianus*) — scavenges marine mammal carcasses ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Protected](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/protected): Protected status signifies a species or area is safeguarded by legal measures and conservation efforts to prevent harm or loss. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Admire these birds from a distance as they are wild animals and need their space. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Condor? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is California Condor? 109-140 cm ### What is California Condor's wingspan? 270-310 cm ### How much does California Condor weigh? 7-14 kg ### How long does California Condor live? 45-60 years ### How fast can California Condor move? 90 km/h ### What does California Condor eat? These giant birds are nature's cleanup crew, feasting only on the dead bodies of large animals! ### Where is California Condor usually found? Mountain regions ## Where to spot - [Oregon Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-zoo) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Oakland Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oakland-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Santa Barbara Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/santa-barbara-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [San Diego Zoo Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-diego-zoo-safari-park) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see California Condor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-condor) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [California Condor: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-condor)