Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)

A male Andean Condor in flight, showing its majestic wingspan and black wings with white patches. — The Andean Condor, a majestic raptor and emblem of the South American mountains.

Introduction

The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is an immense scavenging raptor belonging to the Cathartidae family. It is often considered the largest terrestrial flying bird in the world by wingspan, rivaling the Wandering Albatross for the title of largest flying bird overall. Its dimensions are impressive:

Length: 100 to 130 cm (39 to 51 in)
Wingspan: 270 to 330 cm (8.9 to 10.8 ft, sometimes up to 350 cm or 11.5 ft)
Weight: 8 to 15 kg (18 to 33 lb, males are heavier)

This New World vulture, a national symbol of several Andean countries, is a master of soaring flight, using thermal currents to rise majestically above the mountains. It plays a crucial ecological role as a natural scavenger by feeding on carcasses.

Our Ornithologist's Advice

By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published August 1, 2025.

My personal tip: Observing an Andean Condor in flight is an unforgettable experience. To maximize your chances and identify it unmistakably, here are a few tips:

Look for large open plains and valleys: The Andean Condor prefers thermal currents generated by the vast open landscapes of the Andean mountains. Scan the sky above cliffs, peaks, and valleys, especially in the late morning or early afternoon when updrafts are strongest. Areas where herds of cattle or camelids graze are also good indicators of potential food sources.
Identify its distinctive silhouette and plumage in flight: In flight, its massive wingspan is unmatched. Look for its predominantly black plumage, contrasting with the wide white ruff at the base of its neck. Most importantly, note the large white patches on the top of its wings (wing coverts) which are very visible and characteristic. It mostly soars, with very few wing beats, holding its primary feathers splayed like "fingers" at the wingtips.

By keeping these elements in mind, you will fully appreciate the magnificence of this emblematic bird of the Andes.

Identification

The Andean Condor is one of the largest and heaviest flying birds, easily recognizable by its distinctive features.

Plumage: Adults display predominantly black plumage with metallic reflections, along with a prominent white downy ruff at the base of its long, featherless neck. The wings feature large white patches (secondary remiges and wing coverts) that are particularly noticeable in flight. Juveniles have grayish-brown plumage and acquire the white ruff and adult wing markings around 6 to 8 years of age.
Head and Neck: The head and neck are bare of feathers, a typical adaptation for scavengers for hygienic reasons. Their color ranges from grayish-brown to dark red, and can change intensity depending on the bird's emotional state.
Sexual Dimorphism: The male is distinguished by a large, fleshy, dark red comb (caruncle) on the top of its head, as well as lobed wattles on its neck. The female is slightly smaller and lacks both the comb and wattles. Its eyes are yellowish-brown in males, reddish-brown in females.
Beak: It possesses a powerful, hooked, and sharp beak, grayish in color, adapted for tearing flesh from carcasses.

An Andean Condor in flight, highlighting the white patches under its wings and its bare head. — In flight, the large white patches under the Andean Condor's wings are an excellent identification criterion.

Dimensions and Scientific Records (Andean Condor)

Characteristic	Male	Female	Record / Average
Length	100 – 130 cm	100 – 130 cm	100 – 130 cm (adults, average 105 cm)
Weight	11 – 15 kg	6 – 14 kg	8 – 15 kg (adults)
Wingspan	270 – 330 cm	270 – 330 cm	270 – 330 cm (record 350 cm)
Flight Speed	Primarily soaring	Primarily soaring	Can soar over 160 km (100 miles) without flapping
Lifespan	Up to 50 years (wild)	Up to 50 years (wild)	Up to 70 years (captivity)

These figures highlight the impressive stature of the Andean Condor, making it one of the largest and most majestic birds in the world.

Not to be confused with...

California Condor

The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the other New World condor species. Although it has a similar wingspan, it is generally lighter and its body is slightly longer. Its bare head and neck are bright yellow to orange in adults, and it lacks the characteristic white feather ruff of the Andean Condor. It shows white patches under its wings, but its range is limited to western North America.

White Backed Vulture

The White Backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) is significantly smaller than the Andean Condor, with a wingspan of about 1.2 to 2 meters (4 to 6.5 ft). Its plumage is predominantly white with black flight and tail feathers. Its bare head and neck are very colorful (orange, yellow, red, purple) and adorned with a distinctive fleshy orange caruncle above the beak. It is found in tropical lowland forests from Mexico to Argentina.

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Habitat and Distribution of the Andean Condor

The Andean Condor is, as its name suggests, closely associated with the Andes Mountains in South America. It primarily inhabits open and arid mountainous areas, alpine grasslands, and rocky cliffs, where it nests and roosts at altitudes between 3,000 and 5,000 meters (9,800 to 16,400 ft). Its range extends from northern Colombia and Venezuela (where it is rare) down to Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina and Chile.

It can also be observed along the Pacific coasts, particularly in Peru and southern Chile, where it descends to sea level to feed on marine carcasses. It utilizes updrafts along coastal cliffs to soar with great energy efficiency.

Distribution Map

Present Year-Round (Resident)

Present During Passage (Passage)

Diet

The Andean Condor is primarily a scavenger and necrophagous bird, playing an essential ecological role as a cleaner of ecosystems. Its diet mainly consists of carcasses of large terrestrial mammals, such as Andean camelids (llamas, alpacas, guanacos, vicuñas), deer, and livestock (cattle, sheep).

Thanks to its powerful, hooked beak, it can tear through skin and access the muscles and viscera of large prey. On the coasts, it supplements its diet with marine animal carcasses such as seals, fish, and beached cetaceans. In the absence of large carcasses, it may occasionally feed on small mammals (rabbits, squirrels, rodents), lizards, insects, or even seabird eggs. It can fast for one to two weeks after a hearty meal.

Reproduction

The Andean Condor is monogamous and forms lifelong pairs, reaching sexual maturity relatively late, around 6 to 7 years of age. Reproduction is a slow and spaced-out process, with the female laying a single egg (very rarely two) every two years, or more frequently if the previous chick does not survive.

Condors do not build a true nest. The bluish-white egg, approximately 12 cm (4.7 in) long, is laid directly on the ground in an inaccessible rock crevice, cliff ledge, or cave, often at very high altitudes (above 3,000 meters or 9,800 ft). Incubation lasts between 54 and 58 days and is carried out alternately by both parents.

After hatching, the chick remains in the nest for about 5 to 6 months before taking its first flight. However, it remains dependent on its parents for food for an exceptionally long period, up to two years. This extended period of parental care, the longest of any bird, explains the low birth rate and the species' vulnerability in the event of high adult mortality.

Conservation Status

The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is classified as "Vulnerable" (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Although it was previously listed as "Near Threatened" (NT), its population trend is in continuous decline. The global population was estimated to be only about 6,700 adult individuals in 2018, down from an estimated 10,000 in 2009. The species is particularly rare in the northern parts of its range, notably in Venezuela and Colombia.

The main threats to the Andean Condor are multifactorial:

Poisoning: Indirect poisoning is a major cause of mortality, often through the ingestion of animal carcasses poisoned by ranchers to target predators like pumas or foxes. Lead from hunting bullets present in carcasses is also a threat.
Habitat and Prey Loss: Urbanization, hunting, and poaching reduce the availability of large carcasses, their primary food source, and fragment their habitat.
Collisions: Collisions with power lines and vehicles are also causes of mortality, especially when condors search for food along roadsides.
Illegal Hunting: Despite its protected status and cultural importance, the Andean Condor is still a victim of hunting.

Conservation programs are being implemented in several countries to protect this emblematic species, including education, population monitoring, and the reintroduction of captive-bred individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to identify the Andean Condor?

The adult Andean Condor has mostly black plumage, a white feather ruff at the base of its neck, and large white patches on its wings, particularly visible in flight. Its head and neck are bald and reddish in color, which can vary with emotion. The male has a distinctive fleshy comb on its head.

Where does the Andean Condor live?

It mainly lives in the Andes Mountains of South America, at altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 meters (9,800 to 16,400 ft). It can be found from northern Colombia and Venezuela down to Tierra del Fuego, as well as on the Pacific coastal cliffs and sometimes the Atlantic.

What does the Andean Condor eat?

It is a scavenger that primarily feeds on carcasses of large mammals, such as llamas, alpacas, cattle, and deer. On the coasts, it may consume beached marine mammal carcasses like seals, fish, and cetaceans.

What is the conservation status of the Andean Condor?

The Andean Condor is classified as "Vulnerable" (VU) by the IUCN. Its population is declining due to threats such as poisoning, habitat loss, and illegal hunting.

Reference

Wikipedia - King Vulture

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