GENDER VULTUR , Linnaeus, 1758
Vultur Latin Vulture: Vulture Gryphus Latin tap (Greek mythology)
Proposed name: Andean Condor
They are huge vultures, males are larger than females. Wings very long, moderately wide, wide secondary remiges. Relatively long tail. Legs and strong claws with blunt nails. Bareheaded. The male has a fleshy elongated head and a thin white collar feathers at the base of the neck which is also present in the female. The adult plumage is dark gray, almost black, with white wing patches. This genus has been considered (presumably) as close to the genus Gymnogyps and is the flying bird in the world. There is a species in the Andes of South America (Brown and
Amadon 1968).
Common names known : Condor (nationally).
English name : Andean condor.
Taxonomic Comments
is considered a monotypic species.
Global distribution
Andes, from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego. Sea level in Peru and Chile. Chaco region in Bolivia . (Brown and Amadon 1968).
Originally wide geographical and altitudinal distribution between 1800 and 5200 m is currently difficult to observe less than 3000 m
Description
Sexes similar. Overall Length: 1000 - 1300 mm
conspicuous white collar at the base of the neck. White plumage except coverts major and medium-sized wing. Remiges secondary and outer vane of primaries remiges silver-white color. Head elongated caruncle fleshy crest way of wax until the middle of the head. Iris yellowish brown, bill blackish-brown tipped white fingers dark gray or black. Adult female : generally smaller, without crest or caruncle head. Iris red. Youth: completely opaque brown, head and neck without caruncle and covered with drab brown plumage (Blake 1977).
Keys for identification in the field
Huge, black with white collar. Long broad wings with white patches (see above).
Youth: completely opaque brown. Similar species: None.
ecology and habits
Habitat: condors apparently was widely distributed in the Colombian Andes.
Today he is seen as a threatened species (Renjifo et al. 2002), and although it is unclear sure how heavy it was, some of causes that have historically affected the population in some regions of the country have to do with the expansion of the agricultural frontier to high Andean forests and moors, the disappearance of large wild mammals (deer, elk ) which to die was his food, and undoubtedly the direct persecution or poaching of the species by falsely regarded as a threat to domestic livestock mostly.
Today it is considered that the condor population of Colombia is about 60 individuals, which are mostly in the Sierra Nevada
Diet: feeds on carrion, dead mammals mainly medium and large size, including guanacos, livestock and marine mammals along the coast.
general behavior: the Andean condor is a scavenger bird of high mountain, flies the moors and spectacular surroundings on long glides. The Nevado del Ruiz (Alfombrales) was observed and filmed some of these individuals (6-7) with a wide range flight interacting in territorial disputes with a spectacular pair of eagles moor ( Geranoaetus melanoleucus) , which were high on strong chopped condors in an attempt to displace them from their territory (Márquez com. com.). Its curved beak is an extremely efficient for tearing and cutting flesh, contrary to their claws which are the least grasping the Cathartidae, serving only to walk or bear to tear the carcass (Grossman and Hamlet 1964).
Reproductive behavior
a. Courtship: A outstanding feature of the reproductive biology of the species is the wedding party which is practically a "artistic display" of a dance accompanied with open wings of hissing and gurgling during which the male's neck changes from pink to yellow to get to the intercourse which can occur several times a day.
b. Nest: nests on rocky ledges and shallow caves, do not build nests.
c. Eggs: one or two eggs, deposited in the sites mentioned above.
d. Nesting behavior: both sexes participate in incubation, which usually lasts 55-58 days ( Hoyo et al. 1994).
e. Juvenile - parental care: the pigeon takes six months to fly. adult plumage is acquired 6-7 years of age. Apparently, the dependence of juveniles from adults can take several months.
Observation points
National Category: IN D1 (Renjifo et al. 2002). Global Category: LR / nt (BirdLife International 2000)
Colombia has made great efforts to conserve this species from the reintroduction of a 50 individuals born in captivity (zoo San Diego). It is argued that 80% of these individuals have survived successfully, but have not yet been documented breeding events for this group of birds reintroduced. In Colombia, this species has been bred in captivity by the Cali Zoo (Corridor com. Com.).
Source raptor Colombia. COLOMBIA, DIFFERENT BY NATURE
César Márquez, Marc Bechard, Fernando Gast, Victor Hugo Vanegas, Research Institute of Biological Resources. Alexander von Humboldt, 2005.
