Differences between Condor and Wren

Condor and Wren are two classes of birds that belong to the Cathartidae and Troglodytidae 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.

Wrens are tiny song birds. They have a loud voice. The songs of these passerines are considered to be very pleasant. Hence, they are also known as musician wren, flutist wren, and song wren. Wrens are round and stout. The wings, tail, and back are brown, while the belly is greyish white. There are numerous streaks and spots all over the body. The tail is short and firm. The bill is thin and slightly bent at the tip. The legs are thin and long with feet adapted for perching. The family of Wrens includes 88 species. House Wren, Winter Wren, Rock Wren, Cactus Wren, Eurasian Wren, Giant Wren, Spotted Wren, and Bewick’s Wren are a few of them.

Where are Condor and Wren 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.

Wrens live in open forests, orchards near streams, mountains, gardens, shrubs, and towns. Their species are spread across the world. They can be found in Canada, North America, and South America. The Eurasian species exist in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The name Wren is also used for other distinct birds in Australia and New Zealand.

What do Condor and Wren 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.

Wrens are either omnivores or insectivores. They chiefly eat insects, worms, spiders, small lizards and frogs. Some of them also eat fruits, berries, and vegetables.

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

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

Size of Condor and Wren?

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 Wrens depends on the species. The smallest Wren is the White-bellied Wren, which is about 10 centimeters long. The Giant Wren, the largest of the species, is around 22 centimeters long. The Eurasian Wren is one of the smallest birds in Europe. It is eight to 12 centimeters long.

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 White-bellied Wren weighs about 0.32 ounces, while the Giant Wren is around 1.8 ounces in weight.

Where do Condor and Wren 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.

Wrens build their nests in hollows of trees, rocks, and buildings. Nests, shaped like domes, are usually made using leaves, twigs, moss, feathers, and other plant material. In most Wren species, the male makes the structure of the nest with the female finishing it up. In other species, the male constructs several nests and the female chooses one to lay the eggs. It may take one to two weeks to build the nests. Wren eggs are pinkish white or pinkish grey with brown speckles. The female takes the responsibility of incubating the eggs for 12-15 days. Once the eggs hatch, both parents take turns to feed the nestlings. The young ones will be able to fledge when they are 12-18 days old but follow the parents for few days to learn about foraging and safeguarding themselves from predators.

How long do Condor and Wren 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 Wrens depends on the species. The average lifespan is two to seven years. The longest known living Wren was eight years old when it was captured for banding in 1986 in California.

Are Condor or Wren 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 Wren species are migratory. The ones in North America and Canada migrate to the USA and Mexico in winters. They will go back north during March-May. Wrens in the UK are mostly residents. Wren species from northern Europe travel about 1,500 miles to spend their winters in the south. Even in Asia, the same migration pattern occurs. Only the birds from the northern hemisphere typically travel during winters.

Do Condor and Wren 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 Wrens is usually addressed as a herd. Wrens are solitary birds. They forage alone or in pairs. Sometimes they can be spotted in very small groups. On cold nights, however, they roost in packed clusters for warmth. Wrens are extremely territorial. They do not welcome other birds having their nests near theirs. Some species, like the House Wren, are also very aggressive. They can even be acrimonious towards their own species, other birds, and also humans.

Are Condor or Wren 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.

Wrens are protected under the Migratory Bird Act in the USA and Canada. They are protected in the UK as part of conservation efforts. The bird also appears in the European Union’s list of threatened birds requiring special protection.

Are Condor or Wren 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.

Wrens are not primarily endangered birds. Some species like Sedge Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Niceforo’s Wren, Apolinar’s Wren, Fairy Wrens, and Emu Wren are either threatened or endangered. Wrens have a short lifespan, during which time they face threats such as attacks from predators, risk of dying from cold weather, and long flights during migration.

Can Condor and Wren 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.

Wrens are active birds. They are always hopping, running, or taking short flights in search of food. When they have to fly, they take off directly by beating their wings vigorously. Wrens can fly at maximum speed of 20-25 miles an hour. In winters, some species travel as much as 1,500 miles.

Can Condor and Wren swim?

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

Wrens are not water birds. They are also tiny birds without webbed feet. So, they do not swim.

Mating patterns among Condor and Wren

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.

Wrens generally attain sexual maturity when they are about a year old. The male perches at the nesting sites that he has prepared, singing throughout the day to attract a partner. The female chooses a nesting site and fills in more twigs, grass, and feathers to complete the nest. This is an indication of her approval to pair with the male. The female Wren raises two broods every breeding season with each clutch consisting of three to 10 eggs. While the female mostly incubates the eggs, the male shares responsibility to feed and protect the young ones.

When is the mating season for Condor and Wren ?

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

The breeding season for Wrens differs as per species and geography. Typically, it is between April and July each year.

Do Condor and Wren mate for life?

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

Wrens are not monogamous. The partners are bonded until they raise a brood. They usually stay together until their young ones fledge. While the male may seek another pair much earlier, the female waits until she has completed her maternal duties.

How do Condor and Wren 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.

Wrens choose cosy and protected locations for sleeping at nights. These locations could include tree holes, bird boxes, corners of buildings, and deserted vehicles. In winters, the birds roost in flocks, huddling to keep warm.

Can Condor and Wren 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.

There are no known instances of humans eating Wren meat. This could be because these birds are tiny with very little flesh. Further, modern laws in many countries prohibit killing of Wrens.

Can you hunt Condor or Wren?

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.

Hunting of the birds is against the law in several countries. However, Wren Day or Hunt the Wren Day is a tradition followed in many parts of Europe in the month of December. On this day, people hunt Wrens and hang them on top of poles.

Can you feed Condor or Wren?

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

In some countries, it may not be legal to offer food to birds at public places. At bird feeders, the best food you can give Wrens is crickets, worms, peanuts, and berries.