![]() ![]() In the north, its range begins in Venezuela and Colombia, where it is extremely rare, then continues south along the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, through Bolivia and western Argentina to the Tierra del Fuego. The Andean Condor is found in South America in the Andes. Contrary to the usual rule among birds of prey, the female is smaller than the male. ![]() The irises of the male are brown, while those of the female are deep red. The beak is hooked, and adapted to tear rotting meat. The feet are thus more adapted to walking, and are of little use as weapons or organs of prehension as in birds of prey and Old World vultures. The middle toe is greatly elongated, and the hind one is only slightly developed, while the talons of all the toes are comparatively straight and blunt. Juveniles have a grayish-brown general coloration, blackish head and neck skin, and a brown ruff. The skin of the head and neck is capable of flushing noticeably in response to emotional state, which serves to communicate between individuals. In the male, the head is crowned with a dark red caruncle or comb, while the skin of his neck lies in folds, forming a wattle. The head and neck are meticulously kept clean by the bird, and their baldness is an adaptation for hygiene, allowing the skin to be exposed to the sterilizing effects of dehydration and ultraviolet light at high altitudes. The head and neck are red to blackish-red and have few feathers. The adult plumage is a uniform black, with the exception of a frill of white feathers nearly surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large patches or bands of white on the wings which do not appear until the completion of the bird's first moulting. Captive breeding programs have been instituted in several countries. ![]() It is threatened by habitat loss and by secondary poisoning from carcasses killed by hunters. The Andean Condor is considered near threatened by the IUCN. The Andean Condor is a national symbol of Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, and plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the South American Andean regions. It is one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 50 years. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and roosts at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 m (9,800 to 16,400 ft), generally on inaccessible rock ledges. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, it is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. The Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus) is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |