Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus

DESCRIPTION: Considered to be the largest flying and biggest bird of prey in the world! Length: 40-50 inches, Wingspan: 10-12 feet.

FOUND: Historically found on the West coast of South America, high Andes from Venezuela and Colombia to Patagonia. Current range restricted to the high Andes and the shores of the Peruvian coast.

DIET Carrion eater, but may attack wounded or newborn llamas, goats or lambs. On the coast they will eat dead fish, whales, seals and eggs of sea birds

DESCRIPTION: Reduced plummage on head is a feature common to vultures and is considered an adaptation for carrion feeding. Feathers on the head would certainly become plastered by body fluids from the carcasses. The amount of baldness on a vulture is indicative of how far that species sticks its head into the carcass. The strongly arched beak is an extremely effective cutting tool. Handicapped by their weight, condors and other large birds spend much of their flight time soaring on warm air currents. Usually seen in the air singly or in pairs, these birds may form larger groups of up to sixty.

STATUS: Endangered because of being shot. The killing was sanctioned by the government, and supported by the guano-fertilizer industry, because of the depredation caused by condors when feeding on dead (and possibly living) young eggs of the guano producing birds.