AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Andean CondorVultur gryphus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Andean Condor profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 47 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Blanco et al. 2013

Blanco et al. (2013). Need and Seek for Dietary Micronutrients: Endogenous Regulation, External Signalling and Food Sources of Carotenoids in New World Vultures. PLoS ONE.

The page saysweightKg: 15
The source saysadult males (∼15 kg) weigh about 30% more than females (∼11 kg)Note: task #1114: typical adult male from Blanco 2013; the San Diego Zoo's 15 kg is a maximum. Medium, where the name guess gave Light. Not in a curated matchup

Source
02

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020

Vultur gryphus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22697641A181325230.

The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Vulnerable.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).

Source
03

Williams et al. 2020

Williams et al. (2020). Physical limits of flight performance in the heaviest soaring bird. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysThe world's heaviest soaring bird: tracked condors flapped for just 1% of their flight time.
The source saysWe attached custom-made “flight recorders” to Andean condors, the world’s heaviest soaring birds ... condors flapped for only 1% of their flight time
The page saysFlapped for only 1% of flight time in a tracking study
The source sayscondors flapped for only 1% of their flight time
The page saysThe Andean condor (*Vultur gryphus*) is the world's heaviest soaring bird.
The source saysWe deployed bio-logging devices on the world's heaviest soaring bird, the Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus )
The page saysResearchers fitted eight young condors in Argentina with flight recorders that logged every wingbeat.
The source saysEight immature condors (9.5 to 13.9 kg) were each equipped with an archival “Daily Diary” (DD) unit ... in Bariloche, Argentina
The page saysflight recorders that logged every wingbeat
The source saysWe attached custom-made “flight recorders” to Andean condors, the world’s heaviest soaring birds, documenting every single wingbeat
The page saysAcross more than 216 hours in the air, the condors flapped for only 1% of their flight time.
The source saysOur records of individual wingbeats in >216 h of flight show that condors can sustain soaring across a wide range of wind and thermal conditions, flapping for only 1% of their flight time.
The page saysOne bird flew for more than 5 hours without flapping, covering about 172 km.
The source saysOne bird even flew for >5 h without flapping, covering ∼172 km.
The page saysMore than 75% of the flapping was linked to takeoffs.
The source saysOverall, > 75% of flapping flight was associated with takeoffs.
The page saysWhite storks flapped for 17% and ospreys for 25% of their over-land migratory flights,
The source sayswhite storks ( Ciconia ciconia , ∼3 kg) and ospreys ( Pandion haliaetus , ∼1.6 kg) flapping for 17% and 25% of their over-land migratory flights, respectively
The page saysagainst 1% for the condors in the study.
The source sayscondors flapped for only 1% of their flight time
The page saysLighter species appear to flap much more.
The source saysLighter species appear to use flapping flight to a much greater extent than condors
The page saysThe young condors in the tracking study weighed 9.5 to 13.9 kg.
The source saysEight immature condors (9.5 to 13.9 kg)
The page saysAbout 172 km in one go. In a tracking study in Argentina, one young condor soared for more than 5 hours without flapping and covered that distance.
The source saysOne bird even flew for >5 h without flapping, covering ∼172 km.
The page saysTracked condors flapped for 1% of their flight time, and one soared for more than 5 hours without a single wingbeat.
The source saysWe attached custom-made “flight recorders” to Andean condors, the world’s heaviest soaring birds ... condors flapped for only 1% of their flight timeNote: vibe.reason; same source as the body claim
The page saysTracked condors flapped for 1% of their flight time, and one soared for more than 5 hours without a single wingbeat.
The source saysOne bird even flew for >5 h without flapping, covering ∼172 km.Note: vibe.reason, second part

Source
04

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Andean Condor. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysThe high Andes of South America, most often seen in Peru, Chile and Argentina
The source saysThese impressive birds live in the highest peaks of the Andes ... Today, Andean condors are most often seen in Peru, Chile, and Argentina
The page saysCarrion
The source saysLike all vultures, Andean condors are scavengers and eat carrion.
The page saysA condor uses warm air currents, called thermals, to gain altitude and soar.
The source saysThey use warm air currents (called thermals) to help them gain altitude and soar through the sky.
The page saysBy gliding from thermal to thermal, a condor may need to flap its wings only once every hour.
The source saysBy gliding from thermal to thermal, a condor may need to flap its wings only once every hour.
The page saysA male weighs up to 33 pounds (15 kg) and a female up to 24 pounds (11 kg).
The source saysWeight: Females: up to 24 pounds (11 kilograms); Males: up to 33 pounds (15 kilograms)
The page saysA condor is up to 4.25 feet (1.3 m) long, and its wingspan reaches up to 10.5 feet (3.2 m) across.
The source saysUp to 4.25 feet (1.3 meters) long ... Wingspan: Up to 10.5 feet (3.2 meters) across
The page saysCondors mature at 6 to 8 years old, though limited food may delay it.
The source saysMaturity: 6 to 8 years old, though limited food may delay it
The page saysThe San Diego Zoo gives their life span as the late 50s to late 60s.
The source saysLIFE SPAN Late 50s to late 60sNote: Attributed to the zoo: the LIFE SPAN line gives no unit and no wild or zoo scope
The page saysYoungsters are brown.
The source saysJuveniles have brown plumage and skin
The page saysAround six years old a condor molts (sheds) its brown feathers and grows black plumage with white secondary feathers and white neck ruffles.
The source saysAround six years old it molts the brown feathers of its youth and grows the black-and-white plumage of an adult.
The page sayswhite secondary feathers and white neck ruffles
The source saysAs adults, both sexes have black plumage with white secondary feathers and white neck ruffles.
The page saysMales have a comb on top of the head and brown eyes, while females lack the comb and have red eyes.
The source saysMales are usually larger than females and have a distinctive comb on top of their head, as well as a large neck wattle and brown eyes. Females lack the comb and have red eyes.
The page saysMales keep the comb all their life. That makes the sex of a chick easy to tell as soon as it hatches.
The source saysMales keep the comb all their life, which makes it easy to tell the sex of an Andean condor chick as soon as it hatches.
The page saysAndean condors live in the highest peaks of the Andes.
The source saysThese impressive birds live in the highest peaks of the Andes.
The page saysThey nest in rocky crags and soar over open grasslands and lowland desert regions.
The source saysThey nest in rocky crags and soar over open grasslands and lowland desert regions.
The page saysThey once lived from the highlands of northern South America to the tip of Tierra del Fuego.
The source saysAndean condors historically lived in large numbers from the highlands of northern South America to the tip of Tierra del Fuego in the south.
The page saysToday they are most often seen in Peru, Chile and Argentina,
The source saysToday, Andean condors are most often seen in Peru, Chile, and Argentina
The page saysand they soar to heights of 18,000 feet (5,500 m).
The source saysAndean condors soar to heights of 18,000 feet (5,500 meters)
The page saysLike all vultures, condors are scavengers that eat carrion, meaning dead animals.
The source saysLike all vultures, Andean condors are scavengers and eat carrion.
The page saysA featherless head keeps them from getting too messy while buried in a carcass, and the curved beak helps them tear and rip their food.
The source saysLike most other vultures, condors have a featherless head. This keeps their head from getting too messy while buried in a carcass. They also have a curved beak—an adaptation that helps them tear and rip their food.
The page saysOne condor can eat more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of meat at one time and may not be able to fly after such a large meal.
The source saysAn Andean condor can consume more than 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) of meat at one time and may not be able to fly after such a large meal.
The page saysCondors have no syrinx (similar to our larynx), so they cannot vocalize. They hiss, click and grunt instead.
The source saysAndean condors do not have a syrinx (similar to our larynx), so they cannot vocalize. Instead, they hiss, click, and grunt to communicate.
The page saysA female lays a single egg, which the parents take turns incubating for 50 to 60 days.
The source saysThe female lays a single egg, which the parents take turns incubating. ... Incubation period: 50-60 days
The page saysBoth parents care for the chick over about a year and a half, though it fledges (is ready to fly) at six months.
The source saysboth parents care for it over the course of a year-and-a-half, well after the chick has fledged at six months
The page saysA pair lays one egg every other year, though a second may follow 4 to 6 weeks later if the first is lost.
The source saysNumber of eggs: 1 every other year (but a second one may be laid 4 to 6 weeks later if the first one is lost)
The page saysThe San Diego Zoo says condors are threatened over most of their range, mostly by people.
The source saysAndean condors are threatened over most of their range, mostly by people.
The page saysPoisoned livestock carcasses, set out to ward off mountain lions and foxes, harm condors too, and lead bullets, habitat loss and reduced food sources put them at risk.
The source sayslead ranchers to poison livestock carcasses to ward off mountain lions and foxes. However, the poisoned carcasses harm condors, too. The use of lead bullets for hunting ammunition, habitat loss, and reduced food sources also put condors at risk.
The page saysThe San Diego Zoo gives up to 15 kg (33 pounds) for a male and up to 11 kg (24 pounds) for a female.
The source saysWeight: Females: up to 24 pounds (11 kilograms); Males: up to 33 pounds (15 kilograms)
The page saysThe San Diego Zoo puts their life span at the late 50s to late 60s. Reaching adulthood takes 6 to 8 years, and may take longer when food is scarce.
The source saysLIFE SPAN Late 50s to late 60s Maturity: 6 to 8 years old, though limited food may delay itNote: The zoo's LIFE SPAN line gives no unit; the Maturity line beneath it is in years, and the page does not say whether the figure is for wild or zoo birds, so the sentence attributes it to the zoo
The page saysNot really. A condor has no syrinx, so it cannot vocalize and communicates with hisses, clicks and grunts.
The source saysAndean condors do not have a syrinx (similar to our larynx), so they cannot vocalize. Instead, they hiss, click, and grunt to communicate.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.