Differences between Condor and Swallow

Condor and Swallow are two classes of birds that belong to the Cathartidae and Hirundinidae families respectively.

Condor includes two species of New World Vultures, namely, the Andean Condor and the California Condor. They are one of the largest flying birds in the world. The Andean Condor is characterized by black feathers with white patches at the tip of wings. Its neck is covered with white fur, while the head is red and bald. The bird’s talons are straight and blunt and its beak is curved. The California Condor is generally black with white patches below the wings. The neck and head are yellowish orange without any feathers. These birds do not have talons and the backward toe for grasping. The beak is hooked and has an egg tooth.

Swallow encompasses about 90 species of birds. These birds are small with short bills. The color of their plumage varies depending on the species. The back could be plain or bluish green. The belly is usually plain and white, while the lower part of the face and the neck are usually red. The wings of Swallows are narrow and pointed. The tail is long with the tip either square or forked. The birds have short legs with small feet for perching, walking, and running. They have exemplary eyesight. The birds spend most of their time in flight. Some prominent and widespread Swallow species are Barn Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, and Bank Swallow.

Where are Condor and Swallow found?

Andean Condors are found in mountains, deserts, and coasts. They exist in Andes mountains and parts of western South America. On the other hand, California Condors live in rocky shrubs and coniferous forests. They can be found in southern parts of Californian deserts besides Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

Swallows prefer locations that are near lakes, rivers, and waterbodies. However, they live in diverse habitats. They can be found in open grasslands, meadows, alpine areas, and even towns and cities. Swallows are distributed in almost all continents – Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They do not exist in Antarctica, the Arctic, and some remote islands.

What do Condor and Swallow eat?

Andean Condors and California Condors are both carnivores and scavengers. They eat dead deer, sheep, pigs, cows, and other large mammals. On rare occasions they hunt small creatures like rodents, rabbits, and small reptiles.

Swallows are insectivores. They chiefly eat flies and insects like mosquitoes, wasps, bees, spiders, ants, butterflies, snails, grasshoppers, worms, bugs, moths, crickets, and beetles. They are capable of hunting their prey during flight. In winters, the birds eat berries and seeds.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Condor and Swallow

• Condor do eat Fish while Swallow may not eat Fish.
• Condor do eat Frogs while Swallow may not eat Frogs.
• Condor do eat Lizards while Swallow may not eat Lizards.
• Condor do eat Snakes while Swallow may not eat Snakes.
• Condor do eat Turtles while Swallow may not eat Turtles.
• Condor do eat Squirrels while Swallow may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Condor while Swallow do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Condor while Swallow do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Condor do eat Mice while Swallow may not eat Mice.

Size of Condor and Swallow?

When it comes to size, Andean Condors are one of the largest flying birds in the world with a height of nearly four feet and a wingspan of 10 feet. California Condors are nearly as large with a height of 3.5-4.5 feet and a wingspan of about 9.8 feet. They are the largest flying birds in North America.. The size of Swallows differs based on the species. The average length is 3.9-9.4 inches, while the wingspan is about 11-12.6 inches. Mosque Swallow is one of the largest among the species. It is about 9.4 inches long. The species is native to Africa.

Condors are also huge in terms of weight. Andean Condors weigh 16.9-33 pounds. Meanwhile, the average weight of California Condors is 18-20 pounds. while The average weight of Swallows is 0.35-2.11 ounces. Mosque Swallows, which are one of the largest Swallow birds, weigh around two ounces.

Where do Condor and Swallow nest?

Andean Condors make their nests with sticks on safe rims of rocks or ledges of cliffs in higher elevation. Their eggs are bluish white with a weight of 9.9 ounces. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs for 58-60 days. The chicks fledge at around six months but continue to be under the care of their parents for 10 months to two years. California Condors use mountain caves or tree cavities to lay eggs. They surround the eggs with gravel, sticks, or bones. The eggs are bluish green in color and weigh 10 ounces. Both male and female share duties of incubating and nesting the young ones. The eggs hatch after 53-60 days. The young ones fledge in about four months but remain with the parents for a year.

Swallows build their nests in tree holes, cavities of dead trees, nest boxes, ledges of buildings, crannies, or small craters in the ground. The birds prefer dimly lit areas to keep their nests and eggs safe from the sight of predators. Both male and female Swallows engage in nest building. The nests are shaped like cups and mostly made of mud. The birds gather mud in their bills for its construction. They also mix mud with grass and other plant material to make pellets. Swallow nests typically consist of about 1,000 pellets. It usually takes one to two weeks for the birds to complete the nest. Swallow eggs are oval with about 0.8 inches in length and 0.6 inches in width. They are plain white and could have brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs for about 14 days. The nestlings that hatch thereafter are mostly naked and do not open their eyes fully until the tenth day. They fledge when they are 18-24 days old but keep returning to the nest for many weeks.

How long do Condor and Swallow live?

Both species of Condors have a long lifespan. Andean Condors live up to 50 years in the wild. The oldest lived bird died at 80 years in January 2010 at the Beardsley Zoo in USA. California Condors have an average lifespan of 60 years. Of the living California Condors, the oldest is a male that hatched in April 1966.

The life expectancy of Swallows is very small. They are known to live for two to four years. The oldest known Swallow bird lived for a record 11 years.

Are Condor or Swallow migratory birds?

Andean Condors and California Condors are not typical migratory birds although they fly long distances. They do not travel in search of new habitats, instead travel nearly 125 miles a day looking for food.

Most Swallow species are migratory. Their breeding and wintering habitats are usually different. The birds usually relocate southward during winters. In Europe, Swallow species move towards Morocco and South Africa. The ones in North America and Canada travel to Central and South America. The Holarctic species migrates from North America to South Africa and even the Indian subcontinent. Barn Swallow, the national bird of Austria, spends its winters in Singapore. In Asia, Swallow species do not travel long distances for migration. They move locally or sometimes even reside in the same territory. The species in Japan migrate to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The birds from China and northern India move southward.

Do Condor and Swallow fly in flocks?

A group of Condors is called a Condo. Andean Condors are mostly solitary. They live in small groups of three or four having both male and female birds. They may roost in colonies. Contrastingly, California Condors are more social. They spend time with their groups and also follow a social hierarchy. They eat together but following a pecking order.

A group of Swallows is known as flight or gulp. The social behavior of Swallows depends on the species. Some are absolutely solitary, while some may live in pairs. Some species live in larger groups of about 200. During the breeding season, most Swallow species are solitary. However, there are a few of them that nest in colonies where about 35 pairs live together. On cold winter nights and during migration, Swallows generally flock together.

Are Condor or Swallow protected?

Both Condor species are protected by law in the USA. They are categorized under the Endangered Species Act, under which harming or killing them is punishable.

Swallows are protected in some parts of the world under conservation and migratory bird laws. These laws prohibit harming of the birds and their nests.

Are Condor or Swallow endangered?

Andean Condors are listed as threatened. They are extinct in Venezuela. Their population is under threat because of hunting by farmers to save their livestock and poisoning from pesticides. They also face danger from electrocution, eating trash, and exposure to pesticides. California Condors are listed as critically endangered. Only a few hundreds of them are remaining but their numbers are increasing due to captive breeding. These birds are being reinstated into the wild.

Some species of Swallows are threatened or endangered. Further they may be rare in some parts of the world but thriving elsewhere. For instance, Barn Swallow is the most pervasive of the species in the world. However, it is listed as threatened in Canada. The White-tailed Swallow exists in a small population in Ethiopia. It is listed as a vulnerable species. Blue Swallow from south-eastern Africa is also facing decline in population and is endangered. Swallows, like most other birds, face threats from climate change, deforestation, pesticides, and natural predators.

Can Condor and Swallow fly?

The Condor species fly by using thermals and flap their wings as infrequently as once an hour. Owing to their large size, they prefer to fly in windy regions. They can reach flying speeds of 55 miles an hour and soar at altitudes of 15,000 feet.

Swallows spend most of their time flying. They hunt for their food while airborne and can even catch insects that are flying. The birds are built with a lean body that facilitates good aerodynamics. They also have long, wide, and sharp-edged wings that help them glide in the air. Swallows are known for their long-distance migration. They travel during the day, flying at low altitudes. Some species fly 6,000 miles two times a year. The birds travel about 320 miles a day at about 20 miles an hour during migration. Their maximum flying speed is 35 miles an hour.

Can Condor and Swallow swim?

Condors are not built to swim. They are not water birds. They are huge and fly in search of food.

Swallows are not regular and efficient swimmers. However, they can swim short distances. Even the chicks will be able to swim if they accidentally fall in water. Swallows also regularly bathe in shallow waters and puddles.

Mating patterns among Condor and Swallow

Andean Condors reach sexual maturity when they turn five or six years. They have the longest breeding cycle among all birds in the world. They reproduce during alternate years. During courtship, the male’s neck changes color to bright yellow. He hisses and coos while dancing and hopping around the female with his wings partly spread out. The partners share a close bonding and raise the young ones jointly for a year. California Condors start mating when they are six to eight years old. They lay one egg every two years. Courtship will include the male performing displays, extending his wings, and dancing by moving his legs. The female also performs displays with her wings. The partners share the responsibility of incubating and tending to the young ones. The female California Condors are known to be able to reproduce asexually without mating.

Swallows reach sexual maturity when they are 40-50 days old. Courtship between partners begins about a week before egg laying. The male performs aerial flight and bowing displays while the female is perched at the nesting site. The partners also sing long songs during courtship and laying of eggs. The male continues to sing throughout the breeding season to defend the territory. There is usually one or two broods raised each year. Swallows lay two to six eggs in a clutch, depending on the species. While the female incubates the eggs, the male is known for his outstanding involvement as a parent.

When is the mating season for Condor and Swallow ?

Andean Condors mate during February-June. In the case of California Condors, the mating season is from December to April.

The mating season for Swallows depends on the species and geography. It could be March-July or May-August. Partners engage in courtship as soon as they reach their breeding territories from the wintering sites.

Do Condor and Swallow mate for life?

Both Condor species are monogamous and mate for life. They also live with their offspring for longer than most other birds.

Swallows mate for life. The partners stay together until one of them dies. They also return to the same nesting site each year. Some of them may even use the same nest after renovating it.

How do Condor and Swallow sleep?

Andean Condors and California Condors roost in groups on elevated cliffs or tall trees to keep themselves safe from predators on the ground. They however sleep near their nests during the breeding season.

Swallows sleep on trees, ledges, tree holes, or caves. When the chicks are young, the family sleeps together at the nesting site. In non-breeding months and winters, Swallows generally sleep in flocks at common roosting sites.

Can Condor and Swallow be eaten?

Humans are not known to consume Condor meat. As these birds are scavengers, it is not healthy to eat them. Further, modern laws do not permit killing of Condors.

Swallows are eaten despite laws protecting them from any harm. It is a delicacy among people in Europe. People are also known to eat the eggs of Swallows. Further, Chinese also savour soups made from the nests of these birds.

Can you hunt Condor or Swallow?

Reduction in the population of California Condors has chiefly been attributed to hunting by farmers who killed the birds to save their livestock. Farmers have also killed Andean Condors. Therefore, to save these species that are endangered, laws have been introduced prohibiting any kind of harming or killing.

Swallows are hunted for meat. They are also killed in some places for destroying crops and farmlands. However, it is illegal to harm or hunt the birds in some countries.

Can you feed Condor or Swallow?

Condors are protected in captivity and at breeding centers to save them from extinction. Here, the birds are fed meat, rodents, chicken, and fish.

It is illegal and not advisable to keep Swallows as pets. At feeders, they can be given insects and kitten food.