![]() Ideal condor habitat consists of wide expanses of undeveloped land, large trees for roosting, and rocky cliffs or tree cavities for nesting.Ĭondors are very social animals, and can form strong bonds with each other. They’ve been known to fly up to 200 miles in a single day, using their huge wings to soar long distances with minimal effort. ![]() Condors need a big territory that provides adequate food and shelter. Condors are scavengers - they strictly eat dead things, and have been seen feeding on everything from ground squirrels to beached whales. These giants soar on wind thermals high above the ground and use their sharp eyesight to spot food below. The exact lifespan of a California condor is unknown, but they are estimated to live over 60 years. If you want an impressive flying machine, go with the condor.A female condor and her six-month-old offspring perch on a rock.Ĭalifornia condors are the largest land birds in North America, with impressive wingspans of 9.5 feet and weights of around 20 pounds. So which bird is better? It really depends on what you’re looking for. ![]() ![]() And while they both eat carrion (dead animals), the vulture will also eat live prey if it’s injured or sick. They also have very sharp eyesight and can spot a carcass from miles away. But what about other features? Both birds are excellent flyers and can glide for hours without flapping their wings. So when it comes to size, there’s no contest – the condor wins hands down. Meanwhile, the turkey vulture, which is the most common type of vulture on the continent, has a wingspan of around 6 feet and typically weighs 4-5 pounds. The California condor is actually the largest land bird in North America! They can have a wingspan of up to 9.5 feet and weigh up to 20 pounds. Both have their own unique features, but which one is bigger? The answer may surprise you. There are two main types of scavenging birds in North America: the condor and the vulture. Andean Condor – The Strongest Vulture on Earth Like the California condor, turkey vultures are scavengers that feed mainly on carrion, but will also eat eggs and small animals if necessary. Its plumage is predominantly black with some brown feathering on its back, but its undersides are paler, usually gray or white. It has a wingspan of 1.5-1.8 m (5-6 ft), making it smaller than the California condor, and measures around 65 cm (26 in) from head to tail. These birds are scavengers and live off carrion, often gathering at carcasses with other vultures or predators such as coyotes, foxes, and ravens.Ī turkey vulture is a medium-sized bird found throughout North and South America. It has black plumage with white wing patches and bare red skin on its head and neck. The largest flying land bird in North America, it has a wingspan of up to 3 m (10 ft) and measures up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) from head to tail. Turkey vultures have a feathered head and neck, which is believed to help protect them from bacteria while scavenging food.ĪLSO READ: Is The Osprey a Type of Eagle? What’s the Difference between a California Condor And a Turkey Vulture?Ī California condor is a large, rare New World vulture. Condors are also distinguished by their bald head and neck, which is thought to help them keep clean while feeding on carrion. While they share many similarities, there are also some notable differences between these two vulture species.įor one, condors are much larger than turkey vultures, with adults typically weighing in at 10-15 pounds (4.5-6.8 kg), compared to just 3-4 pounds (1.4-1.8 kg) for turkey vultures.Īdditionally, condors have shorter tails and wingspans that can reach up to 9 feet (2.74 m), while turkey vultures have longer tails and wingspans of up to 12 feet (3.66 m). The two groups are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor around 25 million years ago. Both birds are members of the family Cathartidae, which contains six species of New World vultures. Yes, condors and turkey vultures are related. They are endangered due to lead poisoning and habitat loss. Condors are the largest flying land bird in North America, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet. Vultures are scavengers that feed on carcasses, while condors are predators that hunt live animals.Īlthough both birds have bald heads and long necks, they belong to different families and orders. No, a California condor is not a vulture. So while both birds might look similar at first glance, there are actually several key ways in which they differ from one another! Is a California Condor a Vulture? ALSO READ: How Much Weight Can a Vulture Carry?
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