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About Andean Condors

HOW BIG CAN THEY GET?

Height: 38 inches (on average)
Weight: Males: 24-32 pounds; Females: 17-24 pounds

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

In the Wild: Carrion (decaying animal
flesh), including larger mammalian carrion,
beached marine mammals, and sea lions
At the Zoo: Large rats, large mice, various sized
rabbits, guinea pigs, and processed meat product

WHERE ARE THEY FROM?

Native Range: South America
Habitat: Mountains, steep cliffs, grasslands, and
coastal beaches

Fun Facts

• Andean condors are the only vultures that show
sexual dimorphism (meaning you can physically tell
the difference between male and female birds). In
addition to being larger than females, males have a
distinctive fleshy crest on their head, along with a
neck wattle. Females do not have these features.

• While these birds can have a wingspan of up to
10 feet and are deemed to be the largest flying
birds in South America, they are actually not
great at flying. Their massive size means they
are too heavy to fly without help, so they rely on
thermals (warm air currents) to help them glide
through the sky. By using these thermals, they
rarely have to flap their wings—sometimes they
need to flap their wings only once every hour.

• Andean condors cannot vocalize! Like other vultures,
they do not have a syrinx (a bird’s version of a voice box),
and so the only sounds they make are grunts and hisses.

• Many people think of birds and nests as two things that
just go together—but Andean condors don’t build safe,
protective nests for their young. Instead, they simply
lay their eggs directly on the ground of a cliff ledge or
in caves or holes. This need for extra protection may be
why the male and female take turns incubating the egg.

BROOKFIELD ZOO | SUMMER 2019 15