Hobbies And Interests
Bald Head
Like most vultures, the condor is missing feathers from most of its head and neck. When feeding, the condor will often insert its entire head and neck into a dead animal. If its head and neck were covered in feathers, they would become matted and caked with blood and debris from the carcass. This rotting material in proximity to the eyes, ears and nose could easily cause infection. By having a bald head, the condor is able to keep itself clean and avoid falling ill.
Protected Nostrils
The condor's nostrils are hidden beneath a bony bridge, preventing the nostrils from becoming clogged with debris during feeding. The bony bridge allows the condor to keep its nostrils clear, ensuring that it is able to breathe properly.
Wings and Eyesight
The wingspan of the California condor, the longest of any North American bird, can exceed 9 feet. The wings are not only long, but broad, and have a large surface area. Condors need these wings because they may travel more than 100 miles a day searching for food, according to Defenders of Wildlife. When foraging, condors are able to glide on rising air currents, soaring for hours as high as 15,000 feet, without flapping their wings. This allows them to transport their heavy bodies over great distances while using very little energy as they search for food. Condors also have keen eyesight, allowing them to spot food from long distances.
Clean Feet
Unlike most birds, condors and other vultures are able to separate their urine and feces, and often direct their urine down their legs. When feeding, they are often standing directly on a carcass, so the legs are a potential entry route for a variety of pathogens. Urinating down the legs helps to disinfect them and prevent disease. In the condor's arid habitat, this practice also helps to regulate temperature by evaporative cooling.