Differences between Condor and Vulture

Condor and Vulture are two classes of birds that belong to the Cathartidae and Accipitridae 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.

Vultures are foraging birds. They have a huge build with plumage that looks unkempt. The feathers are usually pale brown or black in color. The birds have bald heads, clawed toes, hooked beaks, and sharp vision. The talons on their long, clawed toes are blunt and their legs are rather weak. They generally maintain a hunched stance. The Vulture family consists of 23 species, which include 16 species that are native to Asia, Africa, and Europe and seven species that live in North America and South America. Some prominent Vulture species are Turkey Vultures, Himalayan Vulture, Black Vulture, King Vulture, and Lappet-faced Vulture.

Where are Condor and Vulture 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.

Vultures mostly live in open plains, grasslands, deserts, and mountains. They can also be found near human dwelling such as agricultural lands and cities. Vultures can be found in all countries of Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. They do not exist in Australia, Antarctica, and Pacific Islands.

What do Condor and Vulture 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.

Vultures have sharp vision, which allows them to keenly observe preys on the ground. However, they have weak legs and beak, because of which they prefer scavenging dead animals or surviving on human refuse. When they hunt, they capture rodents, reptiles, lambs, calves, and tortoise.

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

• Both Condor and Vulture eat Fish.
• Both Condor and Vulture eat Frogs.
• Both Condor and Vulture eat Lizards.
• Both Condor and Vulture eat Snakes.
• Both Condor and Vulture eat Turtles.
• Both Condor and Vulture eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Condor, but not by all Vulture.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Condorand Vulture.
• Mice are eaten by both Condor and Vulture.

Size of Condor and Vulture?

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.. Vultures are large birds characterized by wide wings. The largest Vulture is the Cinereous Vulture, which is about 3.3 feet long with a wingspan of nearly nine feet. Necrosyrtes Monachus or the Hooded Vulture is the smallest of the species. It is about 2.3 feet long and has a wingspan of 5.5 feet.

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 weight of Vultures differs based on their species. The Cinereous Vulture weighs 27.5 pounds, whereas the Hooded Vulture weighs 5.7 pounds.

Where do Condor and Vulture 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.

Vultures make their nests in trees, cliffs, hollow logs, burrows, ledges, caves, or deserted buildings. They either build new nests using sticks and grass or use old ones by lining them with grass. Vulture eggs are greyish blue-green in color with brown or purple spots. The female lays one to two eggs, which are incubated by both partners for 28-40 days. The young ones fledge when they are 10-14 weeks old, but mostly depend on their parents for food till they are eight months old.

How long do Condor and Vulture 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 lifespan varies for different species. Smaller birds may live up to 18 years in the wild, while the larger ones survive for nearly 50 years. For instance, Ruppell’s Vulture lives up to 50 years, the Hooded Vulture has a lifespan of about 30 years, and the Cinereous Vulture lives for 35 years. The oldest living of the species is a male Turkey Vulture that resides in California. He was born in 1974.

Are Condor or Vulture 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.

Vultures living in northern hemisphere are generally migratory. The species from southern hemisphere are mostly residents. In winters, about a million Vultures travel from Canada and North America to central and South America. Some of them even go up to Ecuador and Venezuela. Vulture species from cold regions of Europe move to Africa, while those from Russia and China travel to the Indian subcontinent.

Do Condor and Vulture 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 flock of Vultures in flight is called a kettle, while a group of Vultures in rest is called a committee. Vultures are gregarious birds that live, eat, and roost in colonies. They migrate in large groups that sometimes could have a thousand birds. However, they hunt alone so as to not divert the prey.

Are Condor or Vulture 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.

Vultures are protected under Migratory Bird Treaty Act in USA. They are protected under similar laws in other countries like Canada, UK, France, and India. Hunting them in these countries is not permitted.

Are Condor or Vulture 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.

The population of Vultures is shrinking due to poisoning by poachers and pesticides, and persecution by farmers. In Africa, Vultures are threatened by hunters who kill them for meat and for body parts that are used in traditional medicine. Presently, eight species in India and seven in Africa face the risk of extinction. Some Vultures listed as endangered include the Indian Vulture, the White-backed Vulture, the Hooded Vulture, the White-rumped Vulture, the Cinereous Vulture, the Himalayan Griffon, the Lappet-faced Vulture, and the Ruppell’s Vulture.

Can Condor and Vulture 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.

Vultures fly by making use of thermals and wind currents. They fly at high altitudes. Some species can fly as high as 37,000 feet above sea level. They are capable of sustaining even with low oxygen levels at higher altitudes. Vultures are known to fly at speeds of 15-20 miles an hour. They fly 62-93 miles a day in search of food. During migration, some species travel as much as 310 miles in a day. The way the birds use their wings during flight is dintinct for different species. While the Turtle Vulture can fly almost six hours without flapping its wings, species like Black Vulture flap their wings more often.

Can Condor and Vulture swim?

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

Vultures are not known to be swimmers. They go to water bodies for bathing and drinking.

Mating patterns among Condor and Vulture

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.

Vultures start mating when they are five or six years old. During courtship, the male hops around the female in circles with its wings partly extended. He also chases the female while exhaling noisily. Vultures are slow breeders, they lay one to two eggs each year.

When is the mating season for Condor and Vulture ?

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

The breeding season for Vultures is March-June in the northern hemisphere and February-April in the southern hemisphere. It is however unique for various species. For instance, the Indian Vultures breed during November-March and the Long-billed Vultures mate during October-May.

Do Condor and Vulture mate for life?

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

Most Vulture species mate for life. They are monogamous and live together throughout the year. They also have strong family bonding.

How do Condor and Vulture 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.

Vultures roost in large communities on trees, buildings, and towers. They stay close to each other in the night to remain warm and conserve energy.

Can Condor and Vulture 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.

Vulture meat is largely consumed in Africa in addition to being used as traditional medicine. However, it is not recommended to eat Vultures as they are scavengers. Many countries do not allow hunting the birds for meat.

Can you hunt Condor or Vulture?

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.

In Africa, Vultures are hunted for meat and medicine. Worldwide, they are known to be killed by farmers for destroying property and attacking livestock. However, there are laws prohibiting hunting, killing, and trading of Vultures.

Can you feed Condor or Vulture?

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

Feeding wild animals is illegal in places like the USA, Singapore, and Dubai. In captivity, they are given goat meat, rodents, and some plant material.