Reproduction

How does the California condor produce its young?

This species is monogamous and will mate for life. To attract a mate male condors perform a display during which his head will turn red and his wings spread out. With the neck feathers puffed out he will approach a female. In the event she submits to him her head will lower.

Breeding takes place from January to March.

Once they are paired they find a cliff, crevice or burnt out tree where they can make a nest. This is not a nest in the conventional sense with only rocks being added as a substrate.

After a successful mating a pale green-blue egg is laid between mid-January and March. For the next 54-58 days the parents will incubate this egg. On average each parent sits for between 2 and 5 days before swapping. While incubating they spend most of their time sleeping.

If they lose an egg they may lay another. In captivity this is used to accelerate the breeding program with one egg being artificially raised. This allows double the number of eggs to be produced each year.

Chicks are covered with grayish down at birth and their eyes already open. It may take 2 ½ days for the chick to break out of the egg after it first begins to break. Their head, neck, underwing and belly are bare meaning the parents will keep it warm.

Eight weeks after hatching they make their first trips out of the nest. After eighteen weeks they will begin to get juvenile plumage. Full plumage develops by 24-25 weeks old.

At 5-6 months old the young California condor will take their first flights.

By 8-9 months they will journey out on their own. Their parents continue to provide food throughout their first winter though.

Sexual maturity is achieved at six years old.

Credit: Public Domain

Behavior

What does the California condor do with its day?

This bird is diurnal and spends most of its day perching with some time spent hunting. While perching they spend most of their time preening with some time spent sunning.

When a mated pair is not looking after a chick they will fly together. They are considered social and may be seen roosting and feeding with other birds.

These birds will clean their feathers using their beak in a process known as preening.

In flight they will reach speeds of up to 88km/h (55mph). To help them stay aloft for long periods they will soar on thermal currents.

California condors lack vocal cords and as a result their vocalizations are limited to a grunt or a hiss.

Credit: Public Domain

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the California condor?

Natural predators of the California condor include the golden eagle and humans. Golden eagles and black bears also prey upon young. Common ravens will sometimes take eggs.

The population of the California condor has been increasing following their near extinction in the mid 1900s. They are the subject of intense conservation efforts both through captive breeding and wild reintroductions and habitat restoration.

At present the entire wild population consists of around 200 birds of breeding age.

Today the largest threat is lead poisoning. Over half of the deaths in the population are a result of this. Populations along the coast also suffer from thin eggshells due to DDT exposure through their prey.

They may be electrocuted if they land on a power line or collide with it. Birds being prepared for release are taught to avoid powerlines.

An emerging threat is West Nile virus. At present all birds are vaccinated against the disease but as the population grows with wild breeding it is thought this will become unfeasible.

They can consume small species of trash which accumulates in the digestive tract and can affect them.

The current growth of the population is only possible through releases of captive bred birds. Without this it would remain in decline.

Below is a brief overview of the recovery project for this species.

1982 saw just 21 birds found. US Fish and Wildlife, California department of Fish & Game, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park (now the San Diego Zoo Safari Park) along with the Los Angeles Zoo decided to begin a captive breeding program.

In 1985 it was decided that all the wild California condors would be captured to join the breeding program. In 1987 the last one was captured meaning 26 birds were part of the breeding program.

By 1992 there was 52 birds in captivity and 2 of these were released into the wild with another 6 joining them later that year.

On November 5, 2003 the first chick to successfully fledge in the wild left its nest.

Quick facts

California condors have the lowest reproductive rate of any bird.

The California condor’s numbers fell to just 14 at one time.

Some Native American tribes call the California condor the thunderbird because they believe that the beating of these birds long wings produces thunder.

Each condor which is released to the wild is equipped with a wing tag to help identify them. You may notice these in the images on this page. Some also have a transmitter attached so that scientists can track their movements.