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#Andean condor size free

Because the condors eat carcasses, when hunters shoot an animal using lead bullets, the condors often end up eating the bullets. One of those threats is consumption of bullets. Just like their northern neighbors, the California condors, Andean condors face human threats. In fact, these birds are actually resistant or immune to many deadly diseases, like rabies, tuberculosis, anthrax, and salmonella.

#Andean condor size free

In reality, these birds help keep the ecosystem and the world clean and free of disease.īy eating carcasses before they begin to decompose and putrefy, condors and vultures prevent diseases from multiplying and spreading.

For centuries people have vilified them because we associate them with death. The Importance of the Condor & VultureĪll scavengers, particularly vultures and condors, are extremely important animals. They eat just about anything that they can find, including llamas, cows, sheep, deer, rheas, and even whales. Usually though, they feed on carcasses of animals. Most of the food they eat is already dead, but scientists have seen them hunting small animals like rabbits and birds. Unlike vultures, which have an impeccable sense of smell, these condors rely heavily on sight to locate food. For example, throughout their range in Argentina, they inhabit only the western border. Their range extends from Columbia into Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.įor the most part, they live only within the mountain range, or in close proximity to it. This species lives along the western coast of South America, primarily throughout the Andes Mountains. Because they build their nests on cliffs or in small caves, they must live in close proximity to mountains or rocky outcrops. They often inhabit regions with vast open fields or meadows, near the mountains and the coasts of South America. In fact, some birds live as high as 18,000 ft. These condors live in rocky, mountainous regions, usually at high elevation. Researchers think that condors in the wild can live up to 50 years. The Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut was home to an Andean condor by the name of Thaao, who lived to the ripe old age of 80 years.

Long Lived Birds – This species of bird lives for a surprisingly long time.

Researchers call this strange behavior “urohydrosis.” The feces is liquid, and when it evaporates it cools the area. They poop on their own legs, yes, on purpose.

Keeping Cool – Like other species of vultures and condors, Andean condors use an odd method to cool down.

Having no feathers on their heads makes it much easier to clean themselves after a particularly ripe meal. In fact, they actually try to stay as clean as possible. However, condors and vultures are not slovenly creatures.

Bald Head – Ok, so eating rotting meat isn’t a particularly clean dining habit.

Males also have brown eyes, and females have red. In this species, the male is significantly larger than the female. However, other birds of prey usually have larger females than males.

Sexual Dimorphism – Lots of different animals are sexually dimorphic, where the males and females look different from one another.

Their size alone makes them incredibly impressive, and these birds have interesting traits and behavior as well. It is no question that this species is imposing. Interesting Facts About the Andean Condor

Their heads are quite fleshy, and males also have a crest or comb on top of their head. Like most condors and vultures, their head has no feathers, making it easier to clean. Their feathers are black and gray, and they have a white cuff around the top of their necks. Andean condors’ wings measure over 10.5 feet across from tip to tip. Only a few species of seabirds, including the wandering albatross, can surpass this massive bird’s wingspan.