When you think of birds, what usually comes to mind? For me, it’s cute little feathered things like hummingbirds, cardinals, or wrens. Rarely do I think of owls as birds although I guess technically they are. Then there are large birds like eagles and vultures, but I rarely see them. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.
When I heard that the world’s largest bird was in Colca Canyon, I made it my mission to not only see it, but also find out all I could about this magnificent bird.
It’s often hit or miss to see these birds, but there is a stop on most tours to the Colca Canyon at the Cruz del Condor. It’s often the best place to get a glimpse of the bird in flight.
Fast facts about the Condor
- The condor has a wingspan of 10 feet.
- It can live to to be 70 years old, but the average lifespan in the wild is about 50 years.
- The bird can weigh up to 30 pounds and is nearly 4 feet tall!
- Due to its size, it prefers an environment where loft can assist its flight. Under the right conditions, the bird can fly to a height of 18,000 feet.
- Both parents care for the babies and baby condors stay with their parents for 2 years.
- They reach adulthood around 7 years old.
- The condor mates every other year and only lays one egg at a time.
- The condor eats carrion and eggs; it is not a threat to any type of wildlife.
- Condors are currently on the endangered species list due to over-hunting.
- The condors, are more specifically, the Andean Condor, is the national symbol of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Chile.
and my favorite fact about these massive birds…
- Condors mate for life.
In fact, the remaining partner often commits suicide when its partner dies. The bird just refuses to flap its massive wings and plummets to its death. Tragic, but also somewhat romantic.