condor bird - one of the largest flying birds in the world.This predator belonging to the family of vultures.Among condors distinguish 2 types, depending on the habitat - Andean (dwelling on the ridges of the Andes), and California (distributed in a small area in California).Representatives of both species have a strong constitution, strong hook-shaped beak, wide sweeping wings and bare neck.This is a red neck and condors can be distinguished from other birds of prey.
plumage of adults is black, but the Andean condor bird is distinguished by the white coverts.Dimensions adults are really impressive.If the length of the body reaches 1 meter, wingspan - up to 3 meters!Soaring to a height of bird condor terrifies not only to animals but also to humans.It has long been a legend that a female may drag into the slot, and even a child will master an adult.But this is only a myth.Condor - the bird is not aggressive, but quite peaceful, she fights with neighbors because of the production.Scavengers: small livestock, deer, mountain goats.But finding food is not so easy in the mountains.
Condor - Bird (left) that can soar for hours, looking for their prey.And if you're lucky, it eats "in reserve", because it is not known when the next meal.This method allows you to survive without food for several days.But, after eating to satiety, heavy with condors sometimes can not fly.
Due to the structure of his body and significant weight condors prefer to sit on the branches of trees or on ledges.For flight they need a jet of warm air rising from the ground bird.For the same reason, do not use the bird condor in flight frequent beating of wings.It is much easier to float in the air with outstretched wings, planning to air flow.
mating season falls in September - October.Formed monogamous couple that does not dissolve until the end of life.Among the contenders for the right lady to have a serious fight erupted.Males are facing necks, and strong entitled to favor females.After mating, the nest is just one egg.
Caring parents do not depart from it, replacing each other, on average, 55 days.After the birth of the chick is helpless for a long time.Parents feed it srygivaya half-digested meat.The first timid solo flight takes place in 6 months, and the full maturation and the formation of the wing takes place in 1 year.Approximately 5-6 years to reach sexual maturity condors and create couples.
Nature determined so that in the wild condors have almost no enemies.Hence the amazing bird life length - up to 80 years in captivity and 50-60 in nature.But despite this fact, the number of condors in the world is scanty.This kind of on the brink of extinction.Because of the shooting of birds occur in colonial America, was destroyed by a large part of the population of California condors.People believed that predators consume the livestock, but, as it turned out, this is just superstition.In today's world only the preservation of birds in nature reserves to prevent their complete disappearance from the face of the Earth.
