According to statistics from biologists, there are more than 10,000 species of birds discovered around the world, divided into six major ecological groups, namely raptors, migratory birds, wading birds, climbing birds, land birds and songbirds.
Andean condor
Representatives of raptors include eagles, eagles, vultures, etc. They are all carnivorous birds, but the number of individuals is less than the other five groups.
Representatives of swimming birds include geese, ducks, swans, etc. They like to live on the water and are good at swimming. They mainly feed on small fish and shrimps.
Representatives of wading birds include red-crowned crane , egret , etc. Their main features are sharp beaks and long legs, which are suitable for survival and hunting in shallow water areas.
Representatives of climbing birds include cuckoos, kingfishers, woodpeckers, etc. The main feature is that two toes are forward and two toes are backward, which is beneficial to climbing trees.
Representatives of land birds include grouse, peacocks, etc. They have poor flying skills and mainly live on land. Their strong claws can dig food in the soil.
Representatives of songbirds include thrush, starling , lark, canary, etc. There are many types, and they are good at singing and can make euphemistic and pleasant calls.
Today we are going to talk about the “big brother” of the bird world, the Andean condor, which is the largest existing raptor in the world.
has a wingspan of over 3 meters and can fly continuously for 5 hours without having to flap its wings once.
The Andean condor, also known as the "Condo's vulture", likes to live on rock walls at an altitude of about 4,000 meters.
An adult Andean condor weighs as much as a hunting dog and can reach 15 kilograms. When they glide in the sky, their wingspan can reach 3.2 meters.
After long-term observation and measurement, scientists have confirmed that the Andean condor is a giant among numerous flying birds. Because the Andean condor is a raptor, it is also the largest raptor in the world.
So why can the Andean condor fly for 5 hours without ever flapping its wings? Scientists came up with the answer after research.
A team of professors from Swansea University in the UK conducted a five-year tracking study on Andean condors. The researchers found that an adult Andean condor flies for an average of about three hours a day, with at least two minutes between flapping its wings. During the entire flight, the Andean condor only spends 1% of its time flapping its wings.
However, one time the data was quite outrageous. An Andean condor flew a total of 172 kilometers and flew continuously for more than 5 hours. As a result, its wings did not flap even once. This surprised the researchers. This was simply a " glider ".
The secret of the flight of the Andean condor is that it can sense the rising thermal airflow from the ground at any time. With the help of the airflow, it can maintain a relatively constant gliding state and can fly long distances without consuming much energy. Even when there is no wind, Andean condors can fly long distances using thermal air currents.
Although the Andean condor is a superb flyer, it also has its own shortcomings, that is, the take-off phase is not easy at all.
Because of its large size, the Andean condor will appear particularly bulky when taking off. This requires two steps to use momentum to fly.
is obviously very strong, but he is willing to "scavenge" and make a living by picking up "leftovers".
In "Animal World", we can often see vultures and vultures living in the African savannah. They always follow the lions in groups and pick up their leftover food scraps. The same is true for the Andean condors living in South America.
Andean condors have almost no feathers on their heads and necks, and always appear bare. Due to long-term living habits, their claws have gradually degenerated and become thick and blunt. They are now no longer able to effectively capture prey.
Andean condors cherish food very much. Although they are also raptors, they "depend on the sky for food." If they are lucky, they can encounter carrion every day. If they are unlucky, they may even be unable to eat for several days. This means that once they encounter a big meal, they will eat themselves until they are full, and they will not leave until they finish eating.
As the "scavengers" of the bird world, the Andean condor's love of eating carrion can be considered a contribution to the natural world. After all, if the animal corpses are allowed to rot, it will inevitably breed a large number of bacteria , and may also lead to the outbreak of disease.
Despite its status as " national bird ", the Andean condor still does some "stealing" things.
In addition to Argentina, the Andean condor can also be found in other countries in South America. It is also the "national bird" of Bolivia , Chile , Colombia and other countries.
Andean condors often do some despicable things. If they can't find food, they will go to the nests of other birds to steal eggs, even newly hatched chicks.
Andean condors can learn to fly about 6 months after birth, but they will live with their parents until they are two years old. They will not reach sexual maturity until they are 7 to 11 years old, at which time they will choose their own partners to start a family. The Andean condor has a long lifespan, reaching 50 years.
Today's Andean condor is an endangered species. In 1970, the World Conservation Union officially included it in the list of endangered species.
