This egg is incubated by both the male and the female and hatches after 54 to 58 days.īoth parents care for the chicks until they hatch to 6 to 7 months of age. The single egg is bluish-white in color, weighs about 280 g (9.9 oz), and is between 7,6 and 10,1 cm (3-4 inches) long. Most Andean condors do not build a nest and a single egg is laid on a bare ledge of the high mountain cliff. The breeding season is generally between February and June, although this can vary depending on your geographic location. Its reproduction rate makes it vulnerable. Because Andean Condors are so heavy, they prefer areas where they can easily find. These birds are so large they make their close relative, the California Condor, look like a lightweight. They not only feed on the remains of mountain animals, but also feed on seals and carcasses of Whales. An official symbol of many Andean countries, the Andean Condor is among the heaviest flying birds, weighing up to 33 pounds with a wingspan of up to 10.5 feet. Which places it within the species that help recycling within the food chain. They can be found at elevations up to 5,500 m (18,000 ft).Īndean condors feed mainly on carrion, that is, they feed on dead animals, unlike other birds such as the Peregrine falcon that hunts its prey. They prefer areas with open spaces and roost and nest on cliffs, small rock ledges, or in caves. Īndean condors have the largest wingspan and area of any land bird, and due to their immense size, they rely on updrafts from mountains and coastal cliffs to stay in the air.ĭue to these updrafts, they can travel great distances with just the occasional flapping of their wings.įrom Colombia and Venezuela to the land of fire.Īndean condors inhabit the mountainous areas of western South America, along the Andes Mountains, from where they get their name. The California Condor can have a wingspan of up to 9.5 feet, and are considered the largest landbird in North America. The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) has a wingspan of 9.5 feet and can weigh up to 25 pounds These incredible birds almost disappeared forever. It is not bigger than an Emu or an Ostrich, but. Both sexes have bald heads, but most males also have a white collar at the base of the neck.