10/30/2022 0 Comments Condor size![]() The pair builds a nest on cliff clefts or in caves that are located near open spaces and roosting trees. The birds then form a monogamous pair, becoming mates for life. A female then lowers its head to indicate that it has accepted the male as its breeding partner. To attract a female, the male bird performs courtship displays by spreading its wings and bobbing its head. Their large wings help them to soar at great heights and go for miles without flapping their wings.Ĭalifornia condors start looking for a mate after they become sexually mature at six years of age. They lack a large sternum, which is the reason why they cannot anchor their large flight muscles, restricting them to being excellent gliders.They can also pierce through the tough hide of cattle and horses and tear their flesh. Their large, sharp beaks are powerful enough to break the bones of goats, pigs, and other large animals.The absence of feathers on their heads is also a useful adaptation because it keeps rotting flesh and harmful bacteria from sticking to their head when they insert their heads into the intestine of a carcass.They have excellent eyesight that helps them to follow other scavengers and locate carrion while flying at great heights.They are often observed near watering holes from which they use water to clean dust and food particles from their feathers.The condors clean their head and neck after feeding. They also spend a lot of time grooming, which involves careful preening of their plumage and keeping it well arranged.When they are not caring for their offspring, they spend most of the time roosting and foraging for food.The California condors do not produce any special vocalization or song other than grunting, growling, and hissing used for communicating with other condors in situations like group feeding and roosting.Although they are not migratory birds, they travel long distances (about 100 miles per day) in search of food and always return to the same roosting or nesting place.They are overall tolerant of one another. These condors are quite sociable at bathing sites, feeding sites, and roosts.They may also eat small mammalian carcasses, including coyotes and rabbits, as well as bodies of aquatic mammals like California sea lions and whales, or fish such as salmon. ![]() ![]() They prefer feasting on large, terrestrial animal carcasses like goats, deer, donkeys, horses, sheep, cougars, cattle, or bears. What do They Eatīeing scavengers, California condors consume carrion. This long lifespan is attributed to the fact that a condor has very few natural enemies other than humans. California condors can live for up to 45-80 years, with an average lifespan of about 60 years. ![]()
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