How Big Is an Andean Condor? Wingspan, Weight and Length

Andean condor size at a glance

The Andean condor is the heaviest bird of prey in the world and one of the heaviest birds of any kind that can fly.

Many measurements come from birds raised in zoos, which may be heavier than wild birds, so all of these figures are best read as ranges.

How big are the wings?

The wingspan, measured from one wingtip to the other with the wings spread, is close to twice the height of an average adult person. A condor’s wings are not only long but also very broad, with the largest surface area of any living bird.

Broad wings with widely spread “fingers” (the long primary feathers at the tips) are ideal for soaring on rising air over mountains. They give the condor a low wing loading, meaning each square meter of wing has to carry relatively little weight. This lets such a heavy bird stay aloft with almost no flapping, as explained in do condors flap their wings?

Males vs females

In most birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks and falcons, females are bigger than males. The Andean condor is an exception: males are larger.

• Males usually weigh about 11–15 kg (24–33 lb). They have a large red comb on the head and a wattle on the neck.
• Females usually weigh about 8–11 kg (18–24 lb). They have no comb and have red eyes.

On average, males are roughly 2 kg (4–5 lb) heavier than females. Size helps males win access to carcasses, where adult males sit at the top of the pecking order.

How big are condor eggs and chicks?

Andean condors lay a single bluish-white egg that weighs about 280 g (10 oz) and measures roughly 7.5–10 cm (3–4 in) long, around four to five times the weight of a large chicken egg. Both parents incubate it for about 54–58 days.

The chick hatches covered in gray down and grows slowly on food brought up by its parents. It is almost adult-sized by the time it makes its first flight at about six months old, but it does not get the full black and white adult plumage, or the male’s comb, until it is several years old. Young condors stay with their parents for up to two years, which is why a pair usually raises only one chick every other year.

How does it compare with other giant birds?

The title of “largest flying bird” depends on what you measure. Some birds have longer wings, others are heavier.

• Albatrosses win on wingspan. The wandering albatross has the longest wings of any living bird, but they are long and narrow, and the bird is lighter.
• Bustards win on maximum weight. The heaviest male kori bustards and great bustards can outweigh a condor, but females are much smaller, and these birds fly only short distances.
• The condor wins on overall bulk in the air. Its combination of high average weight and enormous wing area makes it the largest regular soaring bird.

For more contenders, see what is the largest flying bird?

Andean condor vs California condor

The California condor of North America is the Andean condor’s closest match in size. California condors weigh about 7–14 kg (15–31 lb) and have a wingspan of up to about 3 m (9.8 ft), the largest of any North American bird. On average, the Andean condor is a little heavier and broader-winged.

In the Ice Age, North America had an even bigger relative, Gymnogyps amplus, which was about the size of today’s Andean condor.

Myths about condor size

Myth: condors have wingspans of 4 or 5 meters. Old travelers’ tales described monstrous condors, but no reliably measured bird has exceeded about 3.3 m (10.8 ft).

Myth: a condor can carry off a calf or a child. A condor’s feet are built for walking, with blunt, fairly straight claws. They cannot grip or lift heavy prey, and condors feed on animals that are already dead.

Fact: size has a cost. Being so big means condors need a long runway, a cliff or a strong wind to take off. After a heavy meal, a condor may be unable to lift off at all until it has digested some of its food.