California Condor

  About the Endangered California Condor The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the largest bird in North America and in a critically endangered state. The California condor is in the Cathartidae family (New World vulture) along with the black vulture and the turkey vulture. California condors are soaring birds and can reach over 40mph in flight. The bird became extinct in the wild in 1987 because all were captured. Since then, it has been reintroduced to regions in Arizona, Utah, California, and Mexico. The Cornell Lab states that there are around 230 California condors in the wild in California with another 160 in captivity. Appearance— the California condors feathers are black with patches of white on the underside of their wings. The head is mostly bald but young birds have grey skin; breeding adults have yellow to bright yellow heads. The bird can weigh up to 26lbs with a wingspan of 9.8ft.  Habitat— rocky shrubland, coniferous forest, and oak savanna Cali...