california condor size compared to human

California condor size compared to human skin#

These astonishing seabirds can measure an incredible 11 feet 6 inches (3.5m) between wingtips, although their narrow wings have a smaller surface area than the Andean Condor. The title for largest wingspan goes to the Wandering and Royal Albatrosses of the Southern Hemisphere. Although much smaller overall, large eagle species like the Golden Eagle have much longer talons than the condors for catching and killing live prey. Birds of PreyĪndean Condors are the largest birds of prey, even bigger than the incredible California Condor of North America. Keep reading to learn where Andean Condors rank among the world's biggest birds. There are heavier species, and there are species with wider wingspans, but in a category for combined size, these vultures would take first prize. Would you like to know more about the size of Andean Condors? Read on to learn how big they get, the benefits of their size, and how they compare with other giant birds.Īndean Condors are arguably the world's largest flying bird. That’s why Andean Condors are most at home along the highest mountain range in South America, where taking off and soaring is easy. On the one hand, these majestic birds can dominate other scavenging birds at large animal carcasses, but such a massive wingspan makes flapping flight awkward and tiring.

California condor size compared to human skin#

The average mass of each sex differs by about six pounds, and males also differ by having large skin wattles on the top of their heads.īeing so large has both benefits and downsides. It is relatively rare for male birds of prey to grow larger than their female counterparts, but male Andean Condors can weigh nearly twice as much as females. These gigantic birds can be three times the weight of a Bald Eagle and have the wingspan of thirty hummingbirds. Males grow larger than females, reaching weights of over thirty pounds (15kg) and attaining wingspans over ten feet (320 cm).

So how big are Andean Condors, and how do they compare with some other avian heavyweights?Īndean Condors are the largest bird of prey in the world. They are the only species in their genus but placed in the same family as their critically endangered North American relative, the California Condor.Īndean Condors are the national bird of four South American countries, and their great size and unique looks make them a popular ‘bucket-list’ species for birdwatchers all over the world. The species is widespread along the Andes Mountain range, although vulnerable and declining today. The Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus) is a bird that features heavily in legends and myths, even though its majesty needs no exaggeration.