Soaring Above the Clouds with the King of the Andes

With a wingspan up to 10 feet in length, the mighty Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world. Found throughout the Andes Mountains, the condor is a national symbol for many South American countries. This massive bird has a hairless head, which will change color depending on its emotional state. Though the condor can live up to 70 years, its population is in decline, largely due to the destruction of its natural habitat.

This story is a part of our Planet Earth series. From mammals to insects and birds to reptiles, we share this great big world with all manner of creatures, large and small. Come with us to faraway places as we explore our great big planet and meet some of its wildest inhabitants.

Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com

[vojtavoj]

Production value of this animal series is so great

[Nokkiwow]

I would love to see one of these about Shoebills! They're such cool birds. Great video as always!! <3

[hedajay]

I have read that this condor had an ancient relative with a 23 foot wingspan. Maybe like the dinosaur age or something. Wow! Can't even imagine!

[allisonamandaaldascoronado]

It represents one of the beautiful animals in ecuador

[jacobdees]

I have exams in 14 seconds. Why am I watching this?

[GigiSedlmayer]

Beautiful. love the condors. a book: "Talon, come fly with me"

[elijahjacobs]

Who else has missed some vids and is just binge watching GBS?

[ImCaveJohnson]

Of course humans are killing it. God if we keep this up we will be left with all lame animals, like deer and cats. No rhinos or guerillas.

[Vylphix]

When you click on the video like, "Oh a new Great Big Story video, " and then when it ends you're like, "Wait this wasn't National Geographic?"

[ChuckKeough]

You Say Condor, I Say Buzzard... Tomato, Tomata

[hedajay]

Is there any chance of eventually getting lead bullets outlawed & replaced with something else? Many raptors get poisoned by lead from bullets.

[rentin]

Lol all these animal videos should just all end with, "you guessed it, humans are f*cking this up too."

[hedajay]

The Wandering Albatross can also have one of the largest wingspans in the world, sometimes exceeding the condor's.

[tomek]

Never knew that birds can get led poisoning

[syrenawebb]

gorgeous! and magnificent wingspan, wow! I have read about condors in one of my older bird atlases when I was a kid, but it didn't have a picture. I think there are stories of a giant bird picking up small children and flying off with them in folk lore?? don't know if I'm remembering it right. but sounds like the only bird that huge to hold any rumored significance in old folk tales would be the Andean Condor, because their size is intimidating and they are so long lived.

[SAmaryllis]

oh wow, I never thought about scavengers getting lead poisoning from carcasses that had been shot... :(

[solaikrishnavenivijayakuma]

I like hen it won't be have hair in neck but like this bird lack hair on head

[epicscreenname]

I guess it's been snacking on some of my target practice. Whoops

[tylersolomon]

SAVE THE..whats it called again
WhATEVER SAVE THE AWESOME BIRD

[markr.]

The story of their decline due to carcasses shot by hunters is a another thinly veiled attack on gun rights. They use this falsehood for the decline of the California condor as well. Fact is that hunters only leave behind a gut pile of intestines and very rarely is a bullet left behind in a gut pile since hunters don't shoot game in the guts. They go for the heart, of course. The ingestion of lead and the resultant poisoning of the birds from lead bullets is likely so rare as to not be a true factor at all. Most of the reason is habitat loss and slow breeding (one or two chicks per year at most) which hinders recovery.