ANDEAN CONDOR
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Vultur gryphus
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Range:
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The Andean condor was once found in the Andes Mountains of South America from Venezuela to the islands of Tierra del Fuego in the Strait of Magellan. |
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| Habitat: |
Andean Condors prefer open grasslands and alpine areas in high mountain regions of western South America. These condors will go to lowland deserts and coastlines to forage, but will rarely visit forested areas. |
| Diet: |
Their diet mainly consists of carrion from large and medium-sized mammals |
| Status: |
Near threatened (IUCN) |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
The Andean Condor has a body length of 43 - 51 inches and an 10-foot wingspan. The smaller female weighs 17 1/2 - 24 pounds while the larger male weighs 24 - 33 pounds. |
| Lifespan: |
50 years or more |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
These condors nest in caves or on ledges on a cliff face. They lay a single egg that is incubated for about 59 days. The young birds learn to fly around 6 months of age, but stay with the parents for several more months. Condors may only breed every other year because of the extended breeding season. Young birds become sexually mature at 6 or more years of age. |
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