RAPTOR TAXON ADVISORY GROUP
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Andean Condor

Vultur gryphus
  • Natural History
  • Care Manual
  • SSP
  • Organizations
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​RANGE AND DISTRIBUTION

ANDES, FROM VENEZUELA TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO, DESCENDING TO SEA LEVEL IN PERU AND CHILE.  MOST OFTEN SEEN IN PERU, CHILE, AND ARGENTINA.

​HABITAT

  • FOUND MOSTLY IN HIGH MOUNTAINS AND ALPINE REGIONS. 
  • RARELY FOUND IN FORESTED AREAS.
  • LOWLAND DESERT REGIONS IN PERU AND CHILE.
  • GRASSLAND PLAINS IN ARGENTINA, SOUTH OF RIO NEGRO.
  • STAYS AWAY FROM HUMAN DISTURBANCES.
Picture

Diet

  • SCAVENGER THAT FEEDS ON CARRION OF LARGE AND MEDIUM-SIZED MAMMALS (GUANACOS, LIVESTOCK, MARINE​ MAMMALS ON THE COAST).
  • SOME SMALLER FOOD ITEMS LIKE SHOREBIRD EGGS.
  • GREGARIOUS DURING FORAGING AND FEEDING.

​REPRODUCTION

  • NEST (SCRAPE) IN SHALLOW CAVES ON CLIFF LEDGES.
  • LAY 1 EGG – BOTH PARENTS INCUBATE EGG 56-62 DAYS.
  • CHICK FULLY FEATHERED AND CAN FLY AT 6 MONTHS.
  • BOTH PARENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PARENTAL CARE, WHICH CONTINUES FOR OVER 1 YEAR.
  • SEXUALLY MATURE ONCE THEY ATTAIN ADULT PLUMAGE (5-8 YEARS OLD OR LATER), BUT CAN BE DELAYED.
  • TYPICALLY BREEDS IN ALTERNATE YEARS DUE TO EXTENDED PARENTAL CARE OF OFFSPRING.
  • CAN LAY A REPLACEMENT EGG 4-6 WEEKS AFTER LOSS OF FIRST EGG.

​CHARACTERISTICS

  • ONLY AMERICAN VULTURE TO SHOW SEXUAL DIMORPHISM.
  • MALE HAS COMB/CARUNCLE, LARGE NECK WATTLE, AND YELLOW EYES.
  • FEMALE LACKS COMB/WATTLE, AND HAS RED EYES.
  • CARUNCLE, PLUMAGE, ETC. USED IN COURTSHIP DISPLAY.
  • PLUMAGE BLACK WITH GRAYISH WHITE SECONDARY FEATHERS​ AND COVERTS.
  • WHITE NECK RUFFLE ONLY APPEARS IN ADULTS.
  • BARE SKIN ON HEAD.
  • JUVENILE IS BROWN WITH DARK BARE SKIN – DEVELOPS ADULT PLUMAGE AFTER 5-8 YEARS.
  • ADULT MALE 24-33 LB; ADULT FEMALE 17-24 LB.
  • WINGSPAN UP TO 126 IN (10.5 FT) – LARGEST FLYING BIRD IN SOUTH AMERICA.
  • BODY LENGTH 39-51 IN (3.25 -4.25 FT).
  • LIVES UP TO 70 YEARS IN ZOOS, 50-60 YEARS IN WILD.

STATUS

  • CITES I SINCE 1975.
  • USFWS ENDANGERED SINCE 1970.
  • IUCN NEAR THREATENED SINCE 2001.
  • THREATENED OVER MOST OF RANGE – MOSTLY IN NORTHERN RANGE (VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA).
  • RITUAL USE IN LOCAL CULTURES AND PERSECUTION DUE TO PERCEIVED THREAT TO LIVESTOCK.
  • INCREASE IN HUMAN POPULATION HAS DECREASED CONDOR HABITAT AND PREY BASE.
  • LOW REPRODUCTIVE RATE (REPRODUCE LATE IN LIFE AND EVERY OTHER YEAR) AND LONG LIFESPAN MAKES CONDORS VULNERABLE TO THREATS.
  • HUMAN INTERVENTION NEEDED FOR POPULATION RECOVERY.
  • VERY HARDY IN ZOOLOGICAL FACILITIES AND IS A SELF-SUSTAINING POPULATION.
  • REINTRODUCTION IN COLUMBIA AND PREVIOUSLY
  • VENEZUELA ARE SHOWING PROMISE AT RESTORING WILD POPULATIONS.
For more information, contact Chriss Kmiecik - Andean Condor SSP Education Liason: [email protected]

Andean Condor Care Manual

Picture
Care Manual
​
Andean Condor (
Vultur gryphus)


Officers

Name
Organization
Position
Michael Mace  
San Diego Zoo Safari Park 
SSP Program Leader ​​
​John Azua 
​Denver Zoo
​​SSP Vice Program Leader 
​​Ron Webb 
​​​San Diego Zoo Safari Park 
​Studbook Program Leader  
​​Dr. Nadine Lamberski, DVM 
​San Diego Zoo Safari Park 
​Veterinary 
​Dr. Bruce Rideout 
​​​San Diego Zoo 
​​​​Pathology 
Chriss Kmiecik ​
​Cleveland Metroparks Zoo ​
Education Advisor

Organizations

In 2012, the SSP began working with Asociacion Colobiana De Parques Zoologicos Y Arcuarios (ACOPAZOA) to assist them in establishing Andean condors in Colombian zoos that, in the future, would produce offspring for release into the wild.

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Copyright © 2017
Photo from RĂ¼diger Stehn
  • Home
  • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Education >
      • Vulture Education
      • Year of the Bird
      • Raptors as Program Animals
    • Events
    • Issues >
      • Microtrash
      • Vulture Crisis >
        • Asian Vulture Crisis
        • African Vulture Crisis
      • Lead Poisoning
      • Rat poison
    • Position Statements
    • Training
    • Enrichment
    • Husbandry >
      • Husbandry Idea Gallery
      • Husbandry Products
      • TAG Manuals
  • raptors
    • Vultures >
      • African Vultures >
        • Cape Vulture SSP
        • Lappet-Faced Vulture SSP
        • Hooded Vulture SSP
        • Ruppell’s Griffon SSP
        • White-Backed Vulture SSP
      • Asian Vultures >
        • Eurasian Black Vulture SSP
      • New World Vultures >
        • Andean Condor SSP
        • California Condor SSP
        • King Vulture SSP
    • Eagles >
      • Steller's Sea Eagle SSP
      • Harpy Eagle (Candidate)
    • Falcons >
      • African Pygmy Falcon SSP
    • Hawks
    • Secretary Bird SSP
    • Owls >
      • Burrowing Owl SSP
      • Eurasian Eagle Owl SSP
      • Snowy Owl SSP
      • Spectacled Owl SSP
      • Verreaux's Eagle Owl SSP
  • Conservation
    • African vulture SAFE program
    • Egyptian Vultures in Oman
    • Bird Window Strikes
  • T-Shirt Store
  • About
    • Contact