Andean condor

Andean condor Temporal range: 2.6–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Late Pliocene–Holocene
Male Andean condor at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cathartiformes
Family:	Cathartidae
Genus:	Vultur Linnaeus, 1758
Species:	V. gryphus
Binomial name
Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758
Yellow – approximate range/distribution
Synonyms
Vultur magellanicus Shaw, 1792 Sarcoramphus cuntur Duméril, 1806 Vultur condor Shaw, 1809 Sarcorhamphus aequatorialis Sharpe, 1874 Vultur fossilis Moreno & Mercerat, 1891 Vultur patruus Lönnberg, 1902 Vultur pratruus Emslie, 1988 (lapsus)

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a South American New World vulture and is the only member of the genus Vultur. It is found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America. With a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) and weight of 15 kg (33 lb), the Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world, and is generally considered to be the largest bird of prey in the world.

It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. The female condor is smaller than the male, an exception to the usual sexual dimorphism seen in birds of prey.

The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and nests at elevations of up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft), generally on inaccessible rock ledges. One or two eggs are usually laid. It is one of the world's longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases.

The Andean condor is a national symbol of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the Andean regions. The Andean condor is considered vulnerable by the IUCN. It is threatened by habitat loss and by secondary poisoning from lead in carcasses killed by hunters. Captive breeding programs have been instituted in several countries.