California Condor
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Birds (Aves)
- Dietary Niche: Carnivore (Carrion, large dead mammals)
- Max Speed: 90 km/h (56 mph)
- Adult Weight: 7 - 14 kg (15 - 31 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 50 - 60 years
- Primary Habitat: Mountainous canyons, rocky gorges, coniferous forests
- Native Region: Southwestern United States, Baja California
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Cathartiformes |
| Family | Cathartidae |
| Genus | Gymnogyps |
| Species Binomial | Gymnogyps californianus |
📖 1. Species Overview
The California Condor is the largest land bird in North America. Wiped out in the wild in 1987, it has been reintroduced through intensive captive breeding programs but remains highly endangered.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Has an all-black plumage, white patches on the underside of wings, a featherless head that changes color with mood, and a wingspan up to 3 meters.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Glides majestically on thermal wind currents, traveling over 150 miles a day without flapping wings to search for carcasses.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Strictly scavengers. They feed on carcasses of deer, cattle, and marine mammals, using their sharp bills to rip meat.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Slow breeders. Females lay a single egg on cliff cave floors every 2 years. Chicks take 6 months to fly.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Critically Endangered. Threats include lead poisoning (from eating carcasses shot with lead bullets), ingestion of microtrash, and habitat loss.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- With a wingspan of 3 meters (9.8 feet), California Condors have the largest wing surface area of any North American bird.
- Their skin on their bald head and neck can turn deep pink or orange to signal aggression, excitement, or courtship.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the California Condor.
The California Condor is scientifically classified as Gymnogyps californianus. It belongs to the genus Gymnogyps within the family Cathartidae, class Aves, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, California Condors inhabit Mountainous canyons, rocky gorges, coniferous forests. Their native geographic range primarily spans Southwestern United States, Baja California.
The California Condor is classified as a Carnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Mountainous canyons, rocky gorges, coniferous forests.
A California Condor can achieve top speeds of 90 km/h (56 mph) and weighs approximately 7 - 14 kg (15 - 31 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 50 - 60 years.
The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is currently designated as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Species Profile."
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