Gymnogyps californianus- California Condor

I'm Endangered

Range map for California Condor is not available.

The largest flying bird in North America, the California Condor has a massive 108" wingspan. The California Condor soars over large distances and seeks its prey by sight. Rarely flapping its wings, this largest of vultures, glides in search of carrion, predominantly large mammal carcasses. Pairs form for life, and raise one chick in a cliff ledge nest every other year from when they are about seven years old. Both parents incubate and feed the chick, which by fledging age has a wingspan of 8ft, but remains dependent on it's parents for food for another six months. The California Condor is one of the most endangered birds in the world. The birds were in steady decline from the 1930s to 1980s, a result of lead poisoning, shooting and accidental poisoning. Habit loss was addressed by the creation of Sisquoc Sanctuary in Santa Barbara Co., CA, in 1937 and the Sespe Sanctuary in Ventura Co., CA, in 1947, but this did not stop the species dive towards extinction. In 1987 the nine remaining wild California Condors were taken into captivity to participate in a controversial captive breeding program. Reintroduction into the wild began in 1992. In 2002 the first reintroduced pair raised a chick in the wild. In May 2008 an agreement to protect 90% of the 270,000 acre Tejon Ranch from development safeguarded important habitat for the California Condor. Learn how you can help this species.

• Subfamily Pandioninae- Osprey
• Subfamily Accipitrinae- Kites, Eagles, Hawks
• There are no flock members in these subfamilies.

• Subfamily Micrasturinae- Forest-Falcons
• There are no flock memhers in this subfamily.
• Subfamily Caracarinae- Caracaras
• There are no flock members in this subfamily.

• Subfamily Falconinae- True Falcons, Laughing Falcons

Falco sparverius- American Kestrel