California condor

Gymnogyps californianus · The California condor is a New World vulture and the largest North American land bird, living in parts of Arizona, Utah, California, and northern Baja California, Mexico.

Also called Californian Condor.

California condor
Photo: Stacy from San Diego, CC BY 2.0
California condor
Photo: Chuck Szmurlo, CC BY 3.0
California condor
Photo: California Department of Fish and Wildlife from Sacramento, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderAccipitriformes
FamilyCathartidae
GenusGymnogyps
SpeciesGymnogyps californianus

Where it lives

Coastal mountains of the US West, canyons of Arizona and Utah, and northern Baja.

Fun facts

  • The California condor's wingspan can reach 3.0 meters (9.8 feet), the widest of any North American bird.
  • California condors can live up to 60 years, making them one of the world's longest-living birds.
  • Condors cool themselves down by defecating on their own legs, a behavior called urohidrosis.
  • Condors can't smell their food at all — they find carcasses by watching other scavengers like eagles and vultures.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).