General Description: California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are massive birds with wing spans to 9 feet (3 m). Adult California Condors are black overall except for the naked head, which is red, and the white feet. In flight, the leading portion of the underwing is white (in Turkey Vultures, the trailing edge is white). Juvenile condors have a dark head and mottled wing linings. In flight, the wings are held flat (Turkey Vultures hold their wings with the tips up).

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Cathartidae.

Favored Habitat: Open skies, cliffs, and places with lots of dead cows.

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Cathartidae (vultures)

Where to Find: Released into the wild near the Grand Canyon, the place to find California Condors during summer is the back porch of the Bright Angel Lodge, one of the large hotels at the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

A good place during winter is the bridge over the Colorado River on Highway Alt-89 just west of Page, Arizona. The birds like to sit on the bridge during winter when it is too cold at the Bright Angel Lodge.

Comments: The last of the wild condors was removed from the wild in 1987. I was fortunate to see them in about 1984. Since then, they have been kept in captivity, and recently they have been reintroduced into the wild in southern California and northern Arizona. For some reason, they seem to like the attention they get at the Grand Canyon.