California Condor Fact Sheet

Common Name: California Condor

Scientific Name: Gymnogyps californianus

Wild Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat: Forests, Savannas

Country: United States

Shelter: Trees, Cliffs, Caves

Life Span: 60 years

Size: 10ft wingspan

Details

This massive bird may be largest of all North American birds but it is not a hunter at all. The California Condor is a scavenging vulture who relies on other animals to hunt each other or pass away naturally. It has long been a staple of Native American mythology, similar to the North American Bald Eagle. For thousands of years, its size and skillful flying have awed humans and garnered both respect and fear. The inaccurate reputation as a fierce hunter of livestock have unfortunately led many to shoot the bird in defense. This misconception has contributed to the great loss of these birds in the past century. Other impactful factors include insecticide poisoning, lead poisoning from ammunition used to kill other animals, and habitat destruction. Thankfully, conservation efforts have been successful in increasing their numbers in the past few decades and will continue indefinitely.

Cool Facts

• Has long been an endangered species. • In the past, California Condors were thought to prey on livestock. However, they are scavengers and rarely if ever hunt other animals. • The largest bird species in North America. • Can to glide long distances and ride air currents, meaning they rarely flap their wings. • Has no feathers on its face unlike bearded vultures. This is an adaptation which prevents rotting flesh from sticking to their faces. • Prominent in Native American mythology but often wrongly believed to be predators. • Preys mostly on large animals but have been observed eating smaller creatures such as rats and squirrels.

Taxonomic Breakdown

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Cathartidae Genus: Gymnogyps Species: G. californianus

Conservation & Helping

In the 1980s, all remaining California Condors were captured to prevent their extinction. A combination of poaching, habitat destruction, pollution, and poisoning had brought them extremely close to being wiped out. Since then, reintroduction has steadily increased the number of Condors, both in captivity and in the wild. They have been reintroduced in Arizona, California, and Baja. Their lengthy growth process and low nest size make reproduction a slow process but efforts continue to preserve this species.

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