California Condor
Gymnogyps californianus
The California condor is the largest terrestrial bird in North America. It is
black in color and sports a bald head with very few feathers. The color of the
head varies from white to reddish purple. The bare head is an adaptation for
hygiene since they eat dead and rotting meat and must, for the most part, stick
their heads into the carcasses to feed.
Height Average of 50 inches
Length 3 ½ - 4 ½ feet (wingspan of
about 9 feet)
Weight 17-25 lbs; males larger than females
Lifespan Can live 45-80 years, but average about 60 years if conditions are
right for their survival.
Diet
Carrion (dead animal carcasses). They prefer the carcasses
of large dead animals like deer, cattle, and sheep.
Also known to eat the
carcasses of smaller animals like rodents and rabbits
Population
The population steadily declined during the 20th century until there were only 22 California condors known to exist in the world. The last of the free-flying condors were taken into captivity in 1987 to avoid additional mortality and to preserve as much diversity of the gene pool as possible. There were no California condors in the wild between 1988 and 1991, but reintroduction into the wild began in early 1992 and continues today. As of March 2007, there are approximate 279 California condors in the world, about 130 of which are free-flying in California, Arizona and Baja California, Mexico.
Range
The California condor historically ranged throughout the western United States from Canada to Mexico, with some populations as far east as Florida and New York. Current range includes California’s southern coastal ranges from Big Sur to Ventura County, east through the Transverse Range and the southern Sierra Nevada, with other populations in northern Baja California and Arizona.
Behavior
Condors can soar to heights of 15,000 feet and may travel up to 150 miles a day in search of their next meal. They do not have a good sense of smell so they find their food mostly by their keen eyesight. Like vultures and other scavengers, condors are part of nature’s cleaning crew. Things could get pretty mess without the services of these important animals in the ecosystem!
Reproduction
Gestation About 56 days for egg incubation
Clutch size 1
egg
California condors most often use caves or crevices in rock faces for
nest sites. Instead of having many young and gambling that a few will survive,
the condor produces very few young and provides an extensive amount of parental
care. The chick learns to fly at about 6 months but will stay with the parents
for many more months.
Threats
Historically, California condor decline was the result of a combination of high death rate and a naturally low reproductive rate. Current major threats to wild California condors are lead poisoning, electrocution by colliding with power poles and poaching or accidental shooting. Other threats include ingestion of microtrash (bottle caps, screws, wire, etc.), incompatible development within condor habitat and poisoning from such sources as automobile antifreeze and crude oil.
Legal Status/Protection
The California condor was listed as endangered under the federal *Endangered Species Act on March 11, 1967. Critical habitat for the species was established on September 24, 1976. The condor was listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act on June 27, 1971, although the species has been listed as a Fully Protected Species under California state statute since 1953.
*The Endangered Species Act requires the US federal government to identify species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and help protect both. In doing so, the Act works to ensure the basic health of our natural ecosystems and protect the legacy of conservation we leave to our children and grandchildren.
How You Can Help
- Help California Condors and other wildlife by adopting an animal at our Wildlife Adoption Center.
- Take Action for Wildlife at our Wildlife Action Center.
For additional information
Visit Defenders' Imperiled Species: California Condor pages for more information about what Defenders is doing to help.
Arizona Game & Fish
Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species
LA Zoo & Botanical Gardens
National Park Service
The Peregrine Fund
San Diego Zoo
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ventana Wildlife Society
