Andean Condor

Vultur gryphus

Cathartidae - New World Vultures

The Andean Condor is one of the world’s largest flying birds, with a massive wingspan reaching up to 3.3 m and a heavy, black‑feathered body accented by a striking white neck ruff and white wing patches in adults. Males are larger than females—an unusual reversal among raptors—and possess a prominent comb and wattles on the head. The bare head and neck are dull red and can flush brighter depending on the bird’s emotional state. Its silhouette in flight is unmistakable: long, broad wings held steady as it soars effortlessly on mountain thermals.

Species eBird Ecuador Link: Andean Condor

In Ecuador, the Andean Condor is restricted to the high Andes, where it ranges across páramo, cliffs, and open highland valleys. A 2016 national census estimated only 94–102 individuals in the entire country, confirming its extremely small and fragmented population. Its extent of occurrence in Ecuador is about 49,725 km², but suitable habitat is shrinking due to land‑use change. Habitat loss is identified as the greatest threat to its persistence in Ecuador.

The Andean Condor is a national symbol of Ecuador and several other Andean nations, deeply embedded in Indigenous mythology. It is among the longest‑lived birds on Earth, capable of surviving more than 70 years. Condors nest on inaccessible cliffs up to 5,000 m and raise only one chick every one to two years, making population recovery extremely slow.

Globally, the Andean Condor is listed as Vulnerable, threatened by habitat loss, persecution, and poisoning from carcasses containing lead or toxic baits. Although the global population is larger than Ecuador’s, the species is declining across much of its range. It is listed under CITES Appendix I and considered a high‑priority species for conservation throughout the Andes.

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