Family New World Vultures (Cathartidae)

Near Threatened

Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)

figure, drawing, illustration of Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)

Taxonomy

French: Condor des Andes German: Andenkondor Spanish: Cóndor andino
Taxonomy:

Vultur gryphus

Linnaeus

, 1758,

Chile

.

Monotypic.

Distribution:

Santa Marta Mts and Sierra de Perijá (N Colombia and NW Venezuela); Andes from Venezuela (Mérida) to Tierra del Fuego, descending to sea-level in Peru and Chile.

Descriptive notes

100–130 cm; female 8000–11,000 g, male 11,000–15,000 g; wingspan 260–320 cm. The only American vulture to show sexual dimorphism: male has large (... read more

Voice

Clucking sounds made during courtship, and a variety of low hissing or staccato rattlings sounds... read more

Habitat

Mainly high mountains, including highest peaks, to at least 5000 m, but usually over open grassland... read more

Food and feeding

Mainly carrion from large- and medium-sized mammals, such as guanacos (Lama guanicoe), domestic and, increasingly, exotic... read more

Breeding

Poorly known. Lays Apr–Oct in Colombia, Feb–Jun in Peru, Sept–Oct in Chile. Nests in shallow caves on cliff ledges,... read more

Movements

Forages very widely, and must cover great distances, e.g. recorded twice in Bolivian Chaco, 100 km... read more

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. CITES I. Poorly known, but uncommon and almost certainly declining over most of its range. Global population... read more

Recommended citation

Houston, D., Kirwan, G.M., Christie, D.A. & Sharpe, C.J. (2019). Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52946 on 15 February 2019).