General Information

Many people think of Vultures as extremely dirty animals. They are actually very clean. After feeding, they clean themselves by rubbing against grass, trees, or bushes. They also bathe frequently and spend hours smoothing their feathers.

Physical Description

Adult California Condors have a distinct pink, bald, head. They are definitely not the most beautiful animals, but they are very well designed. Their heads are free of hair and feathers so that during feeding, the carcass won't stick to them as they eat. The skin also shows emotions and turns a deep red-pink during courtship, excitement, or alarm. The adults also have a throat sack that puffs out during courtship displays.

Diet

Like all vultures, the California condor feeds on carrion, the remains of dead animals. They prefer large dead animals like deer, sheep, and cattle, but they also eat rodents, rabbits, and even fish. This type of condor doesn't have a very keen sense of smell like Turkey Vultures, so they find food mostly with their keen eyesight. The birds will then gorge themselves with 2-3 lbs. of food at a time and will go several days until they find another carcass to feed upon. Vultures are essentially a part of natures clean up crew; without them, nature could become pretty messy!

Habitat

At this time, the animal only inhabits the Western Coastal Mountains of the U.S., Arizona, Baja California, and the Grand Canyon.

Reproduction

Caves and crevices of rocky cliffs make a great home for condor nesting sites. There is, however, no actual nest for the single egg that is laid between January and March. The egg is blue-green and the young hatches almost two months later with bare patches on its head, neck, belly, and under wing. At about eight weeks, the chick is ready to wander, and at 5 or 6 months, it's ready to start flying.