The largest soaring bird in North America, California Condor dwarfs even the eagles. The plumage is black with a single white wing bar. A ruff of loose feathers surrounds the base of the neck. The head and neck are unfeathered, and range from yellow to red-orange. The feet are whitish, and the exposed tip of the bill is pale yellow or ivory. In flight, the upper surface of the wing shows a white line along the base of the secondaries. The underside of the wing shows extensive white on the axillaries and along the leading edge. The primaries spread out to form long “fingers.” Juvenile: Young birds have dark gray heads and lack most of the white in the wings.

Length: 117 (cm) Wingspan: 183 (cm)

Habitat:

Nests on cliffs or in caves. Forages in open habitats, usually in hilly terrain that provides suitable updrafts for sustained flight.

Behavior:

Usually soars on flat wings. Occasional wingbeats are slow and deep.

Feeding:

Eats carrion, usually large mammals.