Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
The Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan that can exceed 3 meters. It inhabits the Andes mountain range, nesting at altitudes between 1,000 and 5,000 meters. Condors are monogamous, and a mating pair produces only one chick every two years, and both parents must care for their young for a full year. It feeds mainly on carrion, playing a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance and natural waste removal. They can fly at altitudes of over 5,000 meters for kilometers without flapping their wings, using only air currents. Andean condors can live up to 75 years, making them one of the longest-lived bird species. The male has a prominent crest (caruncle), brown eyes, and is larger in size, while the female has no crest, has red eyes, and is smaller. Threats to Andean condors include habitat loss, the ingestion of lead ammunition, and persecution by farmers.
Conservation status: Vulnerable.