It is one of the world's longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and nests at elevations of up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft), generally on inaccessible rock ledges. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. The female condor is smaller than the male, an exception to the rule among birds of prey.

In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. With a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) and weight of 15 kg (33 lb), the Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world, and is generally considered to be the largest bird of prey in the world. It is found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America. The Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus) is a South American New World vulture and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Vultur fossilis Moreno & Mercerat, 1891.Sarcorhamphus aequatorialis Sharpe, 1874.

Condor birds of prey