| FUN FACT |
Kendall, hatched at the National Aviary in June of 2003, was released in July of 2005 in Colombia. He was first outfitted with a tracking device, and recent reports indicate that he is thriving in his native habitat.
Our newest Andean condor chick, a female named Kachina, was born on June 28, 2007.
The Andean condor is the national symbol in many South American countries, and plays an important role in folklore and mythology. It is believed that sleeping with a condor feather under a blanket will ward off nightmares. |
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Andean condors are among the largest flying birds, with a body weight between 20-25 lbs. and a wingspan of 10-12 feet. They are mostly black with large white patches on their wings.
Andean condors are a type of New World vulture, but they are not closely related to Old World vultures. Their genus, Vultur, means to pluck or tear, and their specific name, gryphus, refers to the mythical hook-billed griffon.
The Andean condor is the only New World vulture that shows obvious differences between males and females. Males have dark eyes, a white feathery neck collar, a fleshy crest above and wattles below the head. The females have bright red eyes and a smaller neck collar, and lack the head crest and wattles of male condors. Andean condors may live 50 years or longer.
The Andean condor has no feathers on its head, which allows the birds to poke their heads into the decaying animal carcass without becoming too dirty. Some researchers believe that having a naked head may also help to keep the birds cooler.
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| DISTRIBUTION |
Chile to Ecuador, Colombia, and Western Venezuela.
Declines of Andean condor pupulations began long ago and have continued to this day. After 16 years of international cooperation, the recovery of the Andean condor in its historical habitat is becoming a reality. Since 1989, over 60 of these spectacular birds have been hatched and reared in U.S. zoos and released in the remote regions of the Colombian Andes. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the National Aviary have taken part in recent captive breeding and reintroduction programs. (See the Fun Fact.) |
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| HABITAT |
Open country of the Andes Mountains from Venezuela to the southern tip of South America.
Due to their large size, they choose to live in windy areas where they can soar on air currents with little effort. They rely on updrafts ro rise very high in the sky and will soar for hours without ever flapping. |
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| DIET |
Andean condors mainly feed on carrion (dead animals). This can include seals or fish and large mammals.
Condors may travel 150 miles a day in search of food and they often feed in groups. As scavengers, Andean condors act as a natural clean-up crew, eating dead animals before they become a health risk to humans and other animals. |
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| BREEDING |
Andean condors mate for life, building their nests in caves or on cliff ledges. They breed from 10,000 to 15,000 feet above sea level in the valleys of the Andes. Two eggs are generally laid in hollows of mountain cliffs or on remote ledges. Both male and female condors take an active part in a courtship dance with their massive wings held straight out. The displaying bird inflates if neck, hisses, and makes a guttural clucking sound, while the skin of the head and neck turns bright red.
The pair typically produces one offspring every other year. The young live with their parents until 2 years of age, at which time they are chased away by their parents to make room for a new chick. |
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| STATUS |
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| AT THE AVIARY |
| See Rhodan and Lianni in the Outdoor exhibit area |
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