HUMBOLDT PENGUIN

 The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is a medium-sized penguin that lives in South America. Its nearest relatives are the African penguin, the Magellanic penguin and the Galápagos penguin. The Humboldt penguin and the cold water current it swims in both are named after the explorer Alexander von Humboldt.

Appearance

Humboldt penguins have a black head with a white border that runs from behind the eye, around the black ear-coverts and chin and joins at the throat. They have blackish-grey upperparts and whitish underparts, with a black breast-band that extends down the flanks to the thigh. They have a fleshy-pink base to the bill. The male is heavier and larger than the female and has a longer bill. Juveniles have dark heads and no breast-band. They have spines on their tongue which they use to hold their prey.

Distribution

Humboldt penguins are found only on the west coast of South America. They breed from southern Chile along the dry and arid coastal regions of the Atacama Desert to subtropical Isla Foca in north Peru. Their range is restricted to the coast and offshore islands affected by the Humboldt current, which provides a continuous supply of nutrients and food. In Chile, the most important breeding colony is at Isla Chañaral. Humboldt penguins are sedentary during the breeding season; they usually stay in proximity to their nests. They can cover large distances, particularly in response to food shortages or changes in environmental conditions. They are a true migrant between Peru and Chile. Humboldt penguins breed on cliff tops, caverns, hollows, cliff tops, beaches, and scrapes covered by vegetation.

Habits and Lifestyle

Humboldt penguins are highly social and communicative birds, gathering in large colonies, providing them protection from predators. They are excellent swimmers and see well both underwater and on land. Humboldt penguins are visual hunters. They leave their islands for foraging after sunrise and different populations have different preferred foraging distances from the colony. Their foraging rhythm depends on the light intensity. They spend more time foraging during overnight trips. Fish are mostly seized from below through short, shallow dives. Penguins, not rearing chicks, are able to be away from their colonies and can travel long distances, looking for new foraging areas. However, those, rearing chicks, generally tend to stay in the same area, foraging in shallow water. Humboldt penguins have different calls that they use to communicate in different ways. If an individual comes too close to an adult Humboldt penguin, the ‘Yell’ is a warning call which is followed by pecking or chasing if ignored. The ‘Throb’ is a soft call between pairs at the nest, used by incubating birds when their mates return to the nest. The ‘Haw’ is a short call given by juveniles alone in the water and by paired birds when one is on the water and the other is on land. The ‘Bray’ is a long call used to attract a mate and advertise a territory during the pre-laying and pre-hatching periods. The ‘Courtship Bray’ is similar to the ‘Bray’, however a different posture is assumed and is given synchronously by pairs during the pre-laying period: the birds stand together pointing their necks and head up, with flippers out to the side. The ‘Peep’ is given by chicks begging for food.

Diet and Nutrition

Humboldt penguins are carnivores (piscivores). Their diet primarily consists of pelagic schooling fish. Northern colonies consume primarily Atlantic saury and garfish, whilst southern populations primarily consume anchovy, Araucanian herring, silver-side, pilchard and squid.

Mating Habits

Humboldt penguins are monogamous and form pairs. The breeding season lasts from March to December, with the highest breeding activity in April and August-September. Before mating, the animals undergo a molting period of about 2 weeks, during which they do not go out to sea and have to starve. By the end of the molt, they finally venture into the sea to forage and return to their breeding grounds, where they mate. During courtship, Humboldt penguins bow their heads to each other and exchange mutual glances with each eye, alternatively. To attract a partner, the bird extends its head vertically, collapses its chest, flaps its wings, and emits a loud call resembling the braying of a donkey. The mutual displaying consists of the pair standing side by side repeating the actions once again. Humboldt penguins burrow their nests on the ground on guano layers and beaches, or nest on cliff tops. Usually, 1-2 eggs are laid and incubated for about 40 days. Both the male and female incubate the eggs alternately. When the chicks hatch out they are semi-altricial; both parents care for them, until the young reach the age of 70-90 days, when they gain their adult plumage. By that time, the young are fully independent and go to sea. They become reproductively mature and are ready to breed at 3 years of age.

Population

Population threats

Humboldt penguins are frequently tangled in fishing nets and killed by explosives, used by fishermen. They are threatened because of mining operations, conducted in the area of their range. The animals are captured for the illegal pet trade, food, as use as fish bait. Human disturbance is among other serious threats to this species’ population; in the northern part of Chile, an important breeding site of Humboldt penguins is presently in danger due to the construction of 2 coal-fired power stations in the area.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Humboldt penguin is 23,800 mature individuals. The breeding population in Chile consists of 5,100 breeding pairs, equating to 10,200 mature individuals. In Peru, the population is estimated to be 13,600 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.

Wildlife of Patagonia

 Peerless Patagonia is striking in grandeur, yet humble in character. As Andean spires rise to the sky, glaciers wind their way down to turquoise lakes dotted with floating icebergs. Condors, guanacos and elusive pumas live unhindered in Torres del Paine National Park, while king penguins waddle freely in a private reserve. A place this staggering in its mountain landscapes and so rich in wildlife could surely boast, but Patagonia quietly woos nature and animal lovers from afar.

Today we’ll meet some of the almost 500 animal species that inhabit this mountainous region. From the soaring Andean condor to the lesser rhea, get to know the creatures that call this majestic landscape home. You’ll find it illuminating, whether you’re departing soon on our Patagonia Wilderness & Wildlife Explorer trip or simply have a fascination with this rugged jewel at the bottom of South America.

Where Exactly Is Patagonia?

Part Chile and part Argentina, Patagonia covers approximately 400,000 square miles. Most tourism centers around the northern lake districts, Los Glaciares National Park (Argentina) and Torres del Paine National Park (Chile). While no one would call these areas tamed, they see considerably more visitors than the expansive ranching country of Argentina and the islands and inlets comprising Chilean Patagonia.

Argentinian Patagonia extends south of the Rio Negro. Chilean Patagonia extends more than 1,000 miles north to south over the regions of Araucania, Los Rios, Los Lagos, Aisen and Magallanes. On a Nat Hab journey to the area, we introduce you to both of Patagonia’s major national parks, as well as Tierra del Fuego and Francisco Coloane Marine Park.

Hiker at Mirador Condor enjoying the breathtaking view of Los Cuernos rocks and Lake Pehoe in Torres del Paine National Park.

Patagonia Wildlife

Wildlife lovers are in their element in Patagonia. Known particularly for pumas, penguins and whales, you’ll also find the world’s smallest deer, ROUS (rodents of unusual size), flightless rheas, massive Andean condors, armadillos, fox and slender guanacos. So, yes, if you’re into animals, put Patagonia on your bucket list!

Southern pudu

Now for our favorite part: showing off a little for a region that may not care to toot its own horn. We’ll introduce you to the “Big 7” of Patagonia wildlife, plus a few more besides.

Prowling Pumas

Also known as cougars or mountain lions, pumas are one of the largest subspecies of the Felidae family. They’re also the largest predators in Patagonia.

On a Nat Hab trip to Patagonia, you’ll spend three full days searching for pumas from our base at EcoCamp Patagonia, backdropped by the sheer spires of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. Follow the sendero de la fauna (the animals’ trail), which was named for the guanacos often seen here. These llama-like animals also happen to be ideal prey for pumas. Look up as we explore, perhaps glimpsing one of the stealthy cats high on a rocky crag. 

Soaring Andean Condors

It’s tough to miss the Andean condor. the males are one of the largest flying birds on the planet and the largest vultures in South America, weighing between 18 and 33 pounds and boasting a wingspan anywhere from 8.1 to 10.6 feet. Watch for them soaring over open grasslands and mountainous alpine regions, as well as foraging in beech forests, as we make our way through Torres del Paine National Park. The range of the Andean condor used to stretch from Venezuela to the Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of the continent but hunting and habitat loss has led to a sharp population decline.

While once they consumed guanaco and vicuña carcasses, the condors must now scavenge livestock remains and introduced species such as the European hare and red deer.  Observe and photograph Chile’s national bird without intruding on their habitat.

Great Guanacos

You’re bound to see a good number of guanacos as we explore Patagonia. There are more than 1,500 of them in Torres del Paine alone! But, as with all wildlife, don’t get too close. They’re very protective of their young, so watch from afar as they chase each other energetically and playfully. Don’t be fooled by the slender limbs and long neck—these camelids, endemic to South America, are one of the continent’s largest mammals, weighing between 200 and 300 pounds and standing approximately 3.5 feet at the shoulder. We’ll find them in the forests, grasslands, deserts and shrublands of the Andean foothills, in areas ranging from sea level to 13,000 feet.

Fun fact: The guanaco can run nearly 35 miles per hour—faster than any other Patagonian animal except the puma!

P.S. Like the guanaco, the vicuña (another member of the camelid family) has pale cinnamon fur and a white belly. They’re shyer than the guanaco but can also zip along when necessary, running up to 29 miles per hour at high elevations. They’re able to reach such speeds because their hearts are twice the size of similar-sized mammals!

Diminuitive Deer

Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) crossing a river

Elusive and currently under threat due to changes in their natural habitat and predation by puma, the short, stocky huemul may show itself as we hike through Torres del Paine, especially near Lago Grey. They’re adept climbers, living on rocky terrain and traversing mountain passes easily. Also known as the south Andean deer or southern guemal, you may recognize them as one of the two animals found on Chile’s coat of arms, alongside an Andean condor.

Remember when we mentioned the world’s smallest deer? Meet the Southern pudu. Listen for the soft “moo” sound of a female as she calls to her young, or the more bleating call of a male.

When the pudu senses danger, its hair rises, its body trembles and its eyes fill with tears (actually, its lacrimal glands open). Doesn’t that make your heart melt? The Southern pudu is currently a protected species but continues to be hunted for its hide and meat.

Little Lesser Rheas

Also known as Darwin’s rhea, the lesser rhea may have the largest wings in proportion to its body of all ratites (flightless birds with a flat breastbone without a keel), but they’re quite diminutive in height and weight. The rhea has the appearance of a small ostrich (often referred to as the South American ostrich), with brown plumage flecked with white. Juveniles don’t obtain the flecks until they’re 3 to 4 years of age. They’re found in the open scrublands of Patagonia, the Altiplano of Southern America, and across the steppes and Puna grasslands of the Andean plateau.

Playful Penguins

Now, for the cutie you’ve been waiting for: the giggle-inducing, addictively adorable penguin. During our Patagonia Wilderness & Wildlife Explorer nature tour, you’ll meet both Magellanic and king penguins, the latter in the most northerly king penguin colony in the world.

King Penguin Park is a private conservation reserve on Inutil Bay. From elevated boardwalks and in strategic hides, you’ll observe the entertaining antics of the world’s second-largest penguin species. Take your time and enjoy; this is the only place in the world to see this species outside Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. While we’re here, we also hike to Swan Lagoon to see black-necked swans, white-necked swans, flamingos, caiquens and various duck species.

Moving on, we wake early for a full day of whale watching and marine life encounters on Bahia Carrera in the Strait of Magellan. As we cruise past Froward Cape (the southernmost point on the mainland of the Americas), look for sea lions and elephant seals lounging on the rocks. As we enter Francisco Coloane Marine Park, Keep your eyes “peeled” for Peale’s dolphins, humpback whales, orcas, petrels, cormorants, skuas, albatrosses and Magellanic penguins at close range.

The Magellanic penguin rookery on nearby Isla Magdalena is massive. The penguins nest here from September to March.

Peale’s dolphin (Lagenorhynchus australis) is a small dolphin found in the waters around Tierra del Fuego.

Skunk

 Skunk: Mammals in the family Mephitidae.

Kingdom: | Animalia

Phylum: | Chordata

Class: | Mammalia

Order: | Carnivora

Family: | Mephitidae

There are 10 living species of skunks. They may be found in the following three genera: Conepatus, Mephitis, and Spilogale.

Size and Weight:

The size of a skunk varies depending on the species. They can range in length from 15.6 to 37 inches, and in weight from about 1.1 to 13 pounds. Spotted skunks are the smallest species. The largest are the hog-nosed skunks.

Appearance:

Skunks have moderately elongated bodies with relatively short, well-muscled legs. They have five toes on each foot, and long front claws for digging. Most skunks have black and white fur, but some may be brown or grey. All skunks are striped. Depending on the species, a skunk may have a single wide stripe along the back and tail, or two thinner stripes, or a series of white spots and broken stripes.

Diet:

Skunks are omnivores. They eat both plant and animal material. Their diet may include insects, rodents, lizards, birds, snakes, eggs, berries, roots, fungi and leaves. When living near human populations, skunks are known to scavenge garbage left by humans. They also may scavenge bird and rodent carcasses left by other animals.

Habitat:

Skunks live in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, forests and mountains.

Geography:

Skunks inhabit North America and South America.

Breeding:

Early spring is skunk mating season. Skunks are polygynous, meaning successful males may mate with additional females. The female gives birth in a den after a gestation period of about two months. She will give birth to a litter of four to seven kits, which are born blind, deaf and vulnerable. After about three weeks, the kits open their eyes. They are weaned at about two months but will stay with their mother until they are ready to mate at about one year old. Mother skunks are protective of their young and are known to spray at any sign of danger. Males are not involved in raising the young.

Social Structure:

Skunks are crepuscular and solitary animals when not breeding. However, in the colder parts of their range, they may gather in communal dens for warmth. Skunks dig burrows to use for shelter during the day. For most of the year, a skunk’s normal range measures 0.5 to 2 miles. During breeding season males travel an expanded range, 4-5 miles per night.

Although skunks may shelter in their dens for extended time periods in the winter, they are not true hibernators. They go into a dormant stage when they are typically inactive and feed rarely. During the winter months, males often den alone but multiple females may huddle together, returning to the same den year after year.

Lifespan:

In the wild, skunks live two to four years. In captivity, they may live for up to ten years.

Threats:

Skunks are threatened by a long list of predators including humans, coyotes, domestic dogs, red foxes, lynx, bobcats, badgers, mountain lions, and fishers. They also can be prey for aerial predators like eagles, great horned owls and crows. Skunks are highly susceptible to diseases like canine distemper and West Nile Virus, among many others. While skunks have an excellent sense of smell and hearing, they have poor vision and are unable to see objects clearly at a distance of 10 feet or more. This leaves them vulnerable to road traffic.

To protect themselves from predators, skunks have a well-known stink strategy. In response to a threat, a skunk will first try to escape. If escape is impossible, it will hiss and stamp its feet. If the threat persists, a skunk can position itself in a U-shape so that its front and back ends are facing the threat, ensuring that its spray will hit the mark without getting a drop on itself. The skunk then emits a well-aimed cloud of stench.

Most predators are deterred by this tactic, which is one of nature’s most effective defense mechanisms. The skunk spews an oily, yellowish liquid produced by anal glands under its fluffy tail. While the liquid does no permanent damage, its stench may linger for days. And, since one of the spray’s noxious ingredients is water resistant, bathing has little effect on relieving the stench.

Conservation Status:

Eight of the ten skunk species are listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The pygmy spotted skunk (Spilogale pygmaea) and the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) are listed as “Vulnerable.”

Giant Petrel

Name: Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) – Hall’s Giant Petrel, Sea Vulture

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) – Antarctic Giant Petrel, Giant Fulmar, Stinker, Stinkpot, Gluttons

Length: Northern – 80 to 95 cm. Southern – 85 to 100 cm.                    

Weight: Northern – 3 to 5 kg. Southern – 3 to 8 kg.

Location: Antarctic up through into subtropical regions of South America, Australia, and Africa.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Diet: Carrion, birds, krill, squid, fish.

Appearance: Mottled grey or brown. Hooked bills. Body-configuration resembles that of the Albatross, though Petrels tend to be more hunch-backed.

How do Giant Petrels feed?

Giant Petrels are prime examples of opportunistic feeders eating almost anything they can get their bills into. Unlike other procellarids Petrels will also feed on land, mainly meaning carrion.

They are known to attack other birds, either beating them to death or drowning them. This applies especially to juvenile birds and chicks.

They are also often spotted following fishing ships in order to pick fish out of nets or to collect offal.

Are Giant Petrels social?

Giant Petrels will remain alone until breeding season by choice, however they are often brought together around food sources. They can become quite aggressive toward each other over disputed food.

How fast do Giant Petrels fly?

Under favorable conditions Giant Petrels can sustain speeds of up to about 20 metres per second.

What are Giant Petrel birthing rituals like?

Northern Giant Petrels become sexually mature at around 10 years of age. Southern Giant Petrels tend to mature a bit earlier, at around 6 years of age.

Many breeding locations are shared between the Northern and Southern Giant Petrels on islands throughout the southern oceans, although the Northern members tend to breed starting about 6 weeks earlier than their Southern counterparts, the latter beginning their season in October. Specific breeding seasons depend on where in the world any particular colony is located.

Nests are created on rocky or grassy ground and consist of moss, grass, and stones. One egg is laid. Incubation lasts around 60 days. Once hatched the chick will fledge (take its first flight) at somewhere around 4 months. Once the juvenile fledges the parents will abandon it, leaving it to forage for itself from there on out.

How long do Giant Petrels live?

Giant Petrels live up to 20 years in the wild.

How many Giant Petrels are there today?

The Northern Giant Petrel population is estimated to be between 17,000 to 21,000. The Southern population is estimated at 97,000.

Do Giant Petrels have any natural predators?

Giant Petrels do not really have any natural predators, although they will come into potentially harmful conflict when trying to hunt Skua chicks and eggs.

7 Grand Giant Petrel Facts

Petrels produce stomach oil which they can either spray out as a defensive measure or can be regurgitated as an energy-rich food for chicks or for themselves during long flights.

Giant Petrels are the only members of the Procellariidae family (Petrels, Prions, and Shearwaters) that have legs strong enough to allow them to move around on land.

Like some other seabird species, Giant Petrels secrete a saline solution from a nasal passage in order to rid their bodies of the excess salt they swallow while feeding.

There is an exception to the mottled grey look of the Petrels. About 15% of the southern branch of the Petrels are almost completely white, causing them to be mistaken for albatrosses.

Northern Giant Petrels have a reddish-pink bill while the Southern Petrels have bills that are a pale green.

The name Macronectes comes from Greek words makros which means “long” and nēktēs meaning “swimmer.”

The name “petrel” comes from the story of Saint Peter who walked on water because petrels look like they’re running on water as they begin to take off into flight.   

Andean Condor

 Andean condors rely on their sense of sight to detect and locate carrion from thousands of feet in the air. They also may use visual cues from smaller vultures, which use smell to locate food.

Both sexes have the ability to change the color of the bare skin on their neck and face in association with mood. This is used for communication between individuals and males also use this for displays during mating season. Males use face and neck flushing (yellow) as part of their visual courtship displays. Andean condors also use clicking and hissing for communication but they lack a syrinx which is needed to produce more complicated bird calls.

Like all birds, Andean condors perceive their environments through visual, auditory, tactile and chemical stimuli.

Benefits

Andean condors tend to feed on large dead animals and occasionally will hunt sick and injured megafauna. Much of the local megafauna in the Andean highlands has been ecologically replaced by domesticated range species such as lamas, cows, horses, sheep, and goats which now constitute a large part of condors’ diets. This has led some farmers and ranchers to see them as pest species that harass their livestock. Poisoning was not uncommon over the last hundred years but is now becoming less common due to an increase in public awareness and appreciation of Andean condors as symbols of the region.

Andean condors have been extremely important as a cultural symbol in the Andes mountains of south America for thousands of years. In the ancient Inca culture of Peru the condor represents one of the three realms of existence, the heavens; while the Jaguar represents the earth and the snake the underworld. These three cultural references appear all over Inca society, including in their architecture. The site of Machu Picchu, which was a royal vacation home, is built in the shape of a condor if viewed from the top of a nearby mountain. There is also a massive stone altar in the site that is shaped like a huge condor with wings spread high.

Andean condors also serve essential roles for humans as important carrion feeders that help limit the spread of disease.

Andean condors are one of the world’s largest flying birds and thus their survival in the native habitat is important for ecotourism in South America. Andean condors are also often found in zoos, being a popular animal to exhibit due to their status. They were also an important learning resource for zookeepers to gain experience with the challenges of captive breeding large condors that was essential to the conservation of critically endangered California condors.

Morphology

Andean condors have dark feathers in maturity (while juveniles are olive-grey and brown), with a white collar or downy plumage around the base of their necks. They also have white flight feathers on their wings as adults, with those of the male being more pronounced. When extended, the wing tips have gaps between the primaries which is an adaptation for soaring. The head and neck of adult condors are bare of feathers and are generally black to dark reddish brown, while juveniles have much darker skin and young hatchlings have fluffy grey down on their bodies. This baldness is presumably a hygienic adaptation, as the bare skin is easier to keep clean and dry after feeding on carrion. The beak is hooked at the end and functions in tearing rotting meat off a corpse. The bases of their upper and lower mandibles are dark with the rest of the beak being ivory colored. Andean condors weigh between 7.7 and 15 kg and range from 97.5 to 128 cm in length. Their wingspan of 3.2 m is the longest wingspan of any land bird.

Andean condors are the only species in the family Cathartidae that exhibit drastic sexual dimorphism. Unlike many other birds of prey, male Andean condors are considerably larger than the females. Also, males have a large caruncle (comb) and wattle which females lack. Sexes differ in eye color as well, with males having brown irises and females having red. Both sexes have the ability to change the color of the bare skin on their neck and face in association with mood. This is used for communication between individuals and males also use this for displays during mating season.

The feet of Andean condors are much less powerful with shorter blunted talons compared to those of other birds of prey. This adaption is well suited for a lifestyle of walking and scavenging. The hind toe is less developed, but the middle toe is much longer that the other toes. Their feet and legs are covered in circular scales that are dark grey in color.

Reproduction

A pair of Andean condors may select a nest site and then roost in (or near) it for as much as two and a half months before mating actually begins. As the pair mate and the time draws near to the female laying their egg, they will gradually begin to roost closer and closer to the nest ledge until they are finally roosting overnight inside it.

The mating behavior of Andean condors differs between accounts in zoo settings and the limited observations of wild birds. Accounts of wild birds have been made at great distances without clear views or description of the display or copulatory behavior. The male display can begin with pre-display behavior that includes the male rubbing his head and neck against a tree or post. Also the male has been described to present the female with small twigs and straws that they both lodge in their wing feathers, immediately followed by the object falling to the ground. These behaviors were not observed in all cases, and no definite explanation was offered. It is loosely hypothesized that the stick behavior may be remnant of when the species ancestors were nest builders but no formal studies have been conducted.

In general the male begins to display by spreading his wings and inflating his neck. His neck and wattle, which are normally a dull pinkish-grey color, flush a bright sulfur yellow. He approaches the female with his wings spread and his neck outstretched and arched with his bill pointing down. The male makes small turns to the left and right as he waddles toward the female who also may spread her wings and mimic his movements. The male hisses as he approaches the female, who may reply with low moaning sounds during copulation. The pair may nibble at each other for several minutes and click their bills together. Nibbling can continue during and after copulation.

Courtship and mating seem to be intricately tied to the males role as a dominant partner and the females submissiveness to him, which may account for the variation in observed behaviors from pair to pair, if each pair has a different balance of dominance in the relationship.

Mating System: monogamous

The mating season of Andean condors varies geographically, but is generally from February through June. They are non-migratory so seasonal extremes are very different in the northern and southern extents of their range. Breeding interval is also likely variable depending on the quality of their habitat and the availability of food.

Observations of breeding in Andean condors have been documented in great detail in only a few instances. This makes generalizing their behavior difficult due to variation between observations.

Most Andean condors do not construct a nest and will lay a single egg on the bare, cliff ledge. Some condors will collect a few sticks to scatter around the ledge. Eggs are bluish-white in color, weigh about 280 g, and are 7.6 to 10.1 cm in length. The single egg is incubated for 54 to 58 days, after which an altricial, downy chick hatches. Chicks are tended by both parents until they fledge at 6 to 7 months old. Fledglings remain with their parents until 2 years old, or when pairs breed again. Juveniles do not reach sexual maturity until 6 to 11 years of age.

Trophic Strategy

Andean condors may form mutualistic relationships with smaller turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) and black vultures (Coragyps atratus), which forage by smell whereas Andean condors forages by sight. Larger Andean condors are much better adapted at tearing into the tough hide of a fresh kill. The smaller vultures benefit from the labors of the condor and feed on what is left of the newly opened carcass. Within the last century or so there has been an ecological shift in food availability across much of the Andean condors’ range as native megafauna species (Llamas, alpacas, rheas, guanacos, and armadillos) are widely being displaced by domesticated animals (cows, horses, sheep, and goats) as well as those introduced for sport hunting (rabbits, foxes, wild boars, and red deer). Andean condors also eat carcasses of whales and other large marine mammals in coastal regions.

Andean condors are primarily scavengers but have been observed to do some hunting of marmots, birds and rabbits. Andean condors lack well developed hunting techniques but may chase and grab at live prey, in which case they begin feeding before the animal is dead. Andean condors hold prey by standing on it, as they lack the strong grasping feet found in most hunting raptors.

When approaching a fresh carcass, Andean condors often start opening the animal near the anus and progress toward the head. One of the first things eaten is usually the liver, followed by the muscle. No significant attempt to open the skulls and eat the brain has been observed.

Distribution

Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) inhabit most of western South America in the mountains and deserts ranging from western Venezuela south to Tierra del Fuego. Andean condors can be found in Columbia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. The wild population was thought to be extirpated from Venezuela but is very rarely still seen there.

In an isolated network of mountain peaks in the Andes of Columbia and Ecuador, the population is thought to be in decline. Populations reach much higher densities in the regions south of the Northern Peruvian Low, were they inhabit vast areas of highland prairie, desert, and coastal regions.

In the northern reaches of their range, where Andean condors are in sharp population decline, food availability is a problem. One study suggested that this lack of food may increase the condors tendency to forage on road kill which presents a threat of being hit by a passing car.

Life Expectancy

Andean condors are long lived birds that mature slowly. Their true maximum lifespan in the wild is unknown but is estimated at around 50 years.

In January of 2010 a wild-born, captive condor died at nearly 80 years old at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport Connecticut.

King Vulture

 This bird can be seen soaring far above the lowlands of Central and South America in search of dead prey. Their enormous wingspan and broad chest are impressive sights against the backdrop of the sky. Given their size, the name is an accurate description. They truly are king of the vultures. This article will cover some interesting facts about the size, geographical range, and diet of the king vulture.

 Amazing Facts

• The fleshy orange appendage located near the beak is thought to play a role in the courtship rituals. A larger, brighter appendage may send an important signal about the health of the bird to a potential mate.
• King vultures rely on air currents for flight. They rarely flap their wings for hours at a time unless it proves to be necessary.
• King vultures were an important part of the medicine and folklore of the Mayans.
• Although they look similar to Old World vultures from the Eastern Hemisphere, it’s actually thought that New World vultures evolved independently from them.

Where to Find the King Vulture

The king vulture can be found in lowland forests, savannas, and grasslands throughout southern Mexico, Central America, and down through South America to Argentina and Brazil. They do not typically occupy large mountainous regions such as the Andes. The home territorial range of an individual bird is not known, but it is probably quite large.

King Vulture Nests

The king vultures do not build artificial nests at all. Instead, they lay their eggs in the hollow cavities of logs, stumps, and trees with very little material added.

King Vulture Scientific Name

The scientific name of the king vulture is Sarcoramphus papa. The genus combines together two ancient Greek words: sarx means flesh and rhamphos means crooked beak. This refers to the fleshy skin along the beak. The species name papa is Latin for bishop. This refers to the bird’s interesting black and white plumage. The king vulture is the only surviving member of its genus, but a few more species are known from the fossil record. They are a member of the New World vulture family.

King Vulture Size, Appearance, and Behavior

The king vulture is among the largest birds of the Americas, measuring some 2.5 feet tall and a wingspan of around 6 to 7 feet long. Their broad chest and long wings have white plumage and black tips, giving them the appearance of a bishop’s cloak. Their bare head is marked by an interesting combination of red, orange, black, and yellow with a fleshy appendage arranged around the large, hooked beak. They also have silver or white eyes and gray feet. Males and females are almost impossible to distinguish from each other by appearance alone.

King vultures are mostly solitary hunters that stick to small family units and do not form large groups. Although they lack a voice box, they do make low croaking sounds and warning calls, especially when a predator approaches their territory. They spend much of the day sitting atop the canopy or soaring above the ground in search of food. They tend to remain within the same place for almost the entire year and do not migrate at all.

King Vulture Diet

King vultures are considered to be scavengers. Without a good sense of smell, they mostly use their well-developed vision to find dead carcasses and feed on them. However, they will often rely on other types of vultures to locate food for them.

What does the king vulture eat?

King vultures feed almost exclusively on carrion. They do not hunt for and kill other animals, even when it’s sick and dying. Their large, sharp beak is nevertheless capable of ripping through tough hide and flesh when the animal has expired. Smaller vultures rely on them to tear up the food.

King Vulture Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

The king vulture does not appear to be seriously threatened in any manner. The IUCN Red List currently ranks it as a species of least concern. However, habitat loss may have some negative impact on this species, causing populations to decline.

What eats the king vulture?

King vultures are sometimes preyed upon by snakes and big cats such as jaguars. The size of the adult affords it some protection against all but the largest predators. Juveniles are more vulnerable, especially when they wander away from the nesting site.

Crowned Eagle

 The crowned eagle is also known as the African crowned eagle or the crowned hawk eagle. It is considered a large bird of prey found in Sub-Saharan Africa and a few other locations in South America.

This particular eagle species is threatened due to trapping, shooting, and nest destruction. In addition, they often face competition for prey from humans as well as habitat loss.

Description

• Latin Name: Stephanoaetus coronatus
• Locatation: Subsaharan Africa
• Habitat: Dense woodlands and forests
• Population Status: Near Threatened
• Size: Up to 10 lb 6 oz (4.7 kilograms), with the female weighing more than the male
• Wingspan: 6 ft 3 in (1.9 meters)
• Diet: Mammels including ungulates (such as antelope), rock hyrax, and monkeys
• Physical Features: Dark brown heads, white and blackish feathers, thick legs, and sharp talons
• Lifespan: Up to 15 years.

Crowned eagles are large predatory birds with slate grey feathers and a visible crest. When measuring the crowned eagle size, you will find that these birds are 31 to 30 inches long.

A male crowned eagle size is typically between 7.1 and 10 pounds, while the female eagle weighs around 5.6 to 9.1 pounds. The crowned eagle wingspan is 5 to 5.9 feet.

African Crowned Eagle Facts

These majestic birds are awe-inspiring and powerful. Keep reading for the top facts about African crowned eagles.

1. The African crowned eagle is also called the crowned eagle, and the crowned hawk-eagle.

2. The African crowned eagle lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. They live from coast to coast across the central part of Africa, and only on the eastern side of the continent as you travel further south.

3. They like to live in dense woodlands and forests, including in African rainforests. But as their traditional habitat is shrinking due to deforestation, you may spot one in a more urban location.

4. The African crowned eagle has a dark brown head. The upper part of its body is covered with dark feathers, while its belly is white with blackish blotches. The wings are also white, but with black tips and two black bars.

They have thick, strong legs with yellow feet and long black talons.

A young African crowned eagle looks quite different. It is hatched covered in fluffy, mostly white down. The first body feathers will start coming in at around 40 days, while the crown (head) feathers appear at about 2 months.

Their feathers are lighter colored when they are young. It takes 3 years to mature to adult coloration.

The tail of this eagle species is striped boldly in black and white, though juveniles are duller and have plumage that includes quite a bit of brown. Adult eagles have a dark brown head and long crest feathers tipped in white.

5. If you include tail feathers in the measurement, the African crowned eagle is 31-39 inches (80-99 centimeters) long.

In terms of length, It is the 5th largest eagle in the world! It is preceded by the Philippine eagle, the Harpy eagle, the Wedge-Tailed eagle, and the Steller’s Sea-eagle.

Its long tail helps guide it as it flies among the trees, as a rudder guides a boat.

6.The largest authenticated wingspan of a crowned eagle is 6 ft 3 in (1.9 meters), although some claim they are larger.

For their weight, this is considered a relatively short wingspan. However, their wings are quite broad. This combination gives them great maneuverability in their forested home.

7. On average, the female is about 10-15 percent larger than the male. A female weighs between 3.2-4.7 kilograms.

A male weighs between 2.6-4.1 kilograms. This makes them the 9th heaviest living eagle species.

8. African crowned eagles are meat-eaters. At least 90 percent of their diet is made up of mammals. As they can be found in many different countries in Africa, their diet varies depending on what’s available regionally.

Ungulates (such as antelope), rock hyrax (adorable little mammals native to Africa and the Middle East), and monkeys are regularly on the menu as their principal prey items.

Every once in a while they may chow down on a bird or lizard, but this is not common.

One type of antelope that they feed on is the bushbuck. It can weigh up to 66 pounds (30 kilograms)! That is more than 6 times the weight of the biggest crowned eagle. Although usually, they hunt the antelopes that are only 4 times their size.

9. The crowned eagle is the most powerful eagle in Africa.

Some would argue that it holds the “crown” for the most powerful eagle in the world (based on the ratio of eagle size to prey size), although others would give this title to the harpy eagle.

As mentioned above, crowned eagles are strong enough to go after prey 4-6 times their own weight. Their talons are strong enough to break spines and crush skulls.

As if yet, there has not been an actual test done to measure the pressure per square inch (PSI) of their grip strength.

10. Crowned eagles have a disposition described as nervous, constantly alert, and on edge. They will fiercely protect their nest.

11. Crowned eagles are very stealthy. They will perch silently in a tree waiting for an unsuspecting victim to appear down below. When they are ready, they will use their powerful legs, strong toes, and giant talons to snatch their prey, often crushing the skull in the process. For larger prey, the eagle will use its sharp hind talon to break the prey’s spine.

These eagles are built for speed. Thye can swoop after prey at an astonishing 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

A fact that I find both interesting and disturbing is that a pair of crowned eagles may choose to hunt together.

The male will soar high in the sky, making sounds to attract the attention of monkeys in the trees below. With the monkeys looking up in confusion, the female eagle will swoop in and nab one.

They prefer to eat their prey in the safety of tree branches. Larger prey will be torn into pieces on the ground and brought up to the nest bit by bit. I hope you are not eating your lunch while reading this…

12. A male works hard to attract his mate. If she’s going to stick with him for life, she’ll need to be impressed. He’ll fly high into the air and swoop down, only to climb back up again.

At the peak of each climb, he’ll flap his wings very quickly, throw back his head, and call out loudly (for up to 30 seconds). During the descent, he may drop as many as 200 feet (60 meters) at a time before ascending back up.

If the female feels sufficiently wooed, the two will lock talons and cartwheel down toward the ground, letting go at the very last second.

There is also a pre-copulation display in which the male runs around the crouching female with his wings upraised.

13. A female crowned eagle will lay 1 or 2 eggs. The eggs are white but sometimes have brownish flecks. Crowned eagles breed once every two years. Incubation lasts for approximately 49 days.

During that period the female will sit on the eggs for 80-90 percent of the time with the male filling in on occasion.

If two eggs are successfully hatched, the weaker of the two will not last. It will either die of starvation (by being outcompeted for food by its sibling), or it may even be killed directly by its sibling. These birds are born fierce.

14. Baby crowned eagles are known by three names (hatchling, eaglet, and fledgling), depending on their life stage.

Hatchlings describe newly hatched eagles.

After a few days, young eagles are called eaglets.

And once they fly for the first time, they become fledglings.

15. Yes, African crowned eagles live in nests. The nest is made using both dead sticks and fresher green branches. The female gathers the material needed to make the nest, while the male is more involved in the construction of it.

A pair of eagles will use the same nest for many years, improving and expanding it. Over time the nest may become as large as 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide, and 10 feet (3 meters) deep. That’s huge!

16. They are not on the endangered species list, although their numbers are on the decline. This is due to the destruction of their home, the tropical African forest. Currently, African crowned eagles are listed as Near Threatened.

An eagle of the same genus (Stephanoaetus), the Malagasy crowned eagle, went extinct sometime around the year 1500.

16. They can live up to 15 years.