During the courtship ritual the pair visits several potential nest sites. A formal courtship consisting of head-bobbing and wing-rocking side-to-side and up and down precedes mating. Breeding commonly takes place between late January and early April. ReproductionĬondors reach sexual maturity at about six years of age, but do not always mate that early. They often eat so much at one meal that they have to wait for several hours on the ground before taking off. They often eat small bones for a source of calcium, a habit that causes them to confuse man-made objects with bones and eat them.Ī Condor may eat up to 1.36-1.8 kg (3-4 lbs) in a day and not eat again for three to four days. Mule deer are favorites, but smaller animals are also eaten. They are vultures and like vultures are carrion eaters, preferring large animal carcasses including domestic animals such as cows, horses, goats, and sheep. DietĬondors hunt prey mostly by sight, soaring on thermal updrafts and wind currents until they spot a potential meal. SizeĪdult California Condors are 117-134 cm (3.8-4.4 ft) in length with a wingspan of up to 290 cm (9.5 ft). Adult plumage does not become complete until the birds are about six years old. During the third year their head goes through varied color transformations before taking on the adult appearance. Juveniles develop dusky black skin and dark feathers. Newly hatched chicks are light colored with an off-white down covering that is soon replaced with gray down. Female birds have bright red eyes and do not have the fleshy head crests of males. Head, bare neck, and crop are usually orange to red in color and become more vividly red during mating season or when the bird is agitated. Their head is featherless except for a small black patch of plumage in front of the eyes. Adults are black except for white wing linings visible when the birds are soaring. Their robust black legs and feet end in heavy toenails, not talons. These birds have heavy beaks with a distinct hook at the end. They are found near the coast and inland. Roosting and nest sites occur mostly in cliff areas and tall trees. They prefer grasslands, chaparral, and scrub oak areas to forage for food. They require three ecosystem habitats to meet their needs-areas for nesting, roosting, and feeding, preferably not too far from each other (although they roam many miles when searching for food). There are four wild colonies in central and southern California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico, resulting from captive bird breeding programs and reintroduction. Although not on exhibit in the Aquarium, this bird is included in our website animal database to expand on the information touched on in The Wave fountain exhibit. The fountain, mural, and accompanying graphics illustrate the story of our Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. The California Condor is illustrated on The Wave’s mosaic tile mural, Rios de la Vida (Rivers of Life). CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered - ProtectedĬLIMATE CHANGE: Not Applicable At the Aquarium
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