California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.
Taxonomy | Physical Characteristics |
---|---|
Describer (Date): Shaw (1797) Order: Accipitriformes Family: Cathartidae Genus: Gymnogyps Species: Gymnogyps californianus
|
Body length: 117-134 cm // 46-53 in Bill length: 44.4 (42.1-46.5) mm // 1.7 (1.7-1.8) in Wingspan: 270 cm // 106 in Weight: Plumage: Head: Naked/bare. Color in adults: orange-red; sometimes with various shades of yellow and pink. Color in immatures: black. |
Distribution & Status | Behavior & Ecology |
Range: Primarily southern and central California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico; some other western U.S. states Habitat: Broad habitat and climate tolerances. In mountainous regions: grasslands, woodlands, scrublands, coniferous and deciduous forests, oak savanas. In coastal regions of central California: seashores. IUCN Status:
CITES Status:
U.S. Endangered Species Act:
Population Estimates: 435 (268 wild, 167 in managed care) (as of December 2015) |
Locomotion: Use thermals for soaring flight; flapping flight typical of takeoff and landing only. Agile on the ground: walk, run, hop. Activity Cycle: Diurnal forager. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon spent foraging. Also spend much of the day perched—preening, with mate or other condors, incubating egg, bathing. Roost and sleep during early morning, evening, and night. Movements: Make long flights to foraging grounds. Home range influenced by daylength (fly farther to forage when days are longer). Some seasonal changes in movements, but no long distance migration. Social Groups: Often gregarious at roosts, bathing sites, and foraging sites. Form monogomous mating pairs. Stable pair bonds over many years; may mate for life. Communication: Keen eyesight, poor sense of smell. Make few sounds. Primarily use visual and tactile displays to communicate. Diet: Carrion. Mainly scavenge on medium- and large-bodied mammal carcasses. Deer, livestock, rodents, stranded marine mammals. Predators |
Reproduction & Development | Species Highlights |
Sexual Maturity: 6 to 8 years of age Clutch Size: 1 egg; a replacement egg is laid if first is removed or damaged early in the breeding season Egg description: Incubation Period: 53-60 days Hatch Weight: 156-205 g (5.5-7.2 oz) Nestlings and Fledglings: Use nest site 5-6 months, then fledge. Fledglings dependent on parents another 5-6 months. Complete breeding cycle over a year. Fledglings may remain in natal area for two years. Typical Life Expectancy: long-lived but typical life expectancy not yet known |
Feature Facts
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
|
© 2017-2020 San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. IUCN Status updated Jun 2019. Population estimates updated Mar 2020.
How to cite: California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) Fact Sheet. c2017-2020. San Diego (CA): San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; [accessed YYYY Mmm dd]. http://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ californiacondor.
(note: replace YYYY Mmm dd with date accessed, e.g., 2014 Sep 15)
Disclaimer: Although San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance makes every attempt to provide accurate information, some of the facts provided may become outdated or replaced by new research findings. Questions and comments may be addressed to library@sdzwa.org.
Note about citations used in this fact sheet: Some information in the Cultural History section of this fact sheet refers to vultures more generally. These facts are noted by "(vultures, general)" appearing before an in-text citation or after a section heading title.
Many thanks to Mike Mace, Curator of Birds at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, for providing expert content review of this fact sheet.
Mr. Mace is responsible for the avian collection and related conservation programs that includes about 20 endangered species. He is a former member of the California Condor Recovery Team and has received awards from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service as an Endangered Species Champion.
Thank you to Michele Gaffney, Associate Nutritionist with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, for providing information on the diet of California Condors at the Safari Park.
California Condors in the Pacific Northwest by Jesse D'Elia and Susan M. Haig (2013). Corvallis (OR): Oregon State Univeristy Press.
Superb historical research. Brings strong organization and insight to the complex cultural and conservation history surrounding California Condors. A fascinating book for those just getting acquainted with condors as well as those seeking to deepen their knowledge.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance staff and volunteers
Email the SDZG Library to request to checkout this book: library@sdzwa.org