National Symbols of Peru - Flag of Peru, Andean Condor, National Anthem of Peru, Coat of Arms of Peru, List of Flags of Peru (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Flag of Peru, Andean Condor, National Anthem of Peru, Coat of Arms of Peru, List of Flags of Peru, National Symbols of Peru, Cockade of Peru. Excerpt: Andean Condor Fossil range: Pliocene to Recent The Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus ) is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur . Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, it is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere . It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion . It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle . It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and roosts at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 m (9,800 to 16,000 ft), generally on inaccessible rock ledges. One or two eggs are usually laid. It is one of the world s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 50 years. The Andean Condor is a national symbol of Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, and plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the South American Andean regions. The Andean Condor is considered near threatened by the IUCN . It is threatened by habitat loss and by secondary poisoning from carcasses killed by hunters. Captive breeding programs have been instituted in several countries....