What is notable about its wingspan?

It is among the largest of any bird

It is the smallest of any raptor

How does it stay aloft?

By riding rising warm air and updrafts

What did a 2020 study find?

Condors flap only about 1 percent of flight time

What role does the condor play in Andean nations?

A national symbol for several countries

Andean Condor Quiz: Thermal Soaring Over the Andes

This Andean condor quiz rides the warm air rising from the slopes of the Andes. Play 10 interactive questions on one of the largest wingspans of any bird, the heaviest bird of prey, thermal soaring, a 2020 study showing condors barely flap, a flight of five hours without flapping, scavenging carcasses, males with combs and white ruffs, Colca Canyon and its role as a national symbol.

Start Andean Condor Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Range
Where does the Andean condor live?
Wings
What is notable about its wingspan?
Weight
What record does it hold among raptors?
Soar
How does it stay aloft?
Study
What did a 2020 study find?
Record
How long did one condor fly without flapping?
Food
What do Andean condors mainly eat?
Male
How can you recognize an adult male?
Canyon
Which Peruvian canyon is famous for condor watching?
Symbol
What role does the condor play in Andean nations?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Where does the Andean condor live?
Answer: The Andes of South America
It also visits coasts.
Q2: What is notable about its wingspan?
Answer: It is among the largest of any bird
It can exceed 3 m.
Q3: What record does it hold among raptors?
Answer: Heaviest bird of prey
Males are bigger.
Q4: How does it stay aloft?
Answer: By riding rising warm air and updrafts
Thermals carry it up.
Q5: What did a 2020 study find?
Answer: Condors flap only about 1 percent of flight time
Tags recorded every wingbeat.
Q6: How long did one condor fly without flapping?
Answer: Over five hours
It covered over 170 km.
Q7: What do Andean condors mainly eat?
Answer: Carcasses
They are scavengers.
Q8: How can you recognize an adult male?
Answer: A fleshy comb and white ruff
Females lack the comb.
Q9: Which Peruvian canyon is famous for condor watching?
Answer: Colca Canyon
Birds rise on morning air.
Q10: What role does the condor play in Andean nations?
Answer: A national symbol for several countries
It appears on coats of arms.

Riding the Air Over the Andes

The Andean condor soars over the Andes of South America. Its wingspan, which can exceed 3 m, is among the largest of any bird, and it is the heaviest bird of prey. Adult males have a fleshy comb and a white ruff of feathers around the neck.

Condors stay aloft by riding rising warm air, called thermals, and updrafts along slopes. A 2020 study using tags found that condors flap only about 1 percent of their flight time, and one bird flew over five hours, covering more than 170 km, without flapping.

Condors are scavengers that feed mainly on carcasses. Colca Canyon in Peru is famous for watching them rise on morning air. The condor is a national symbol of several Andean countries and appears on their coats of arms.

What This Quiz Teaches

Bird fans will enjoy these questions.

Where condors live
How big they are
How they soar
What they eat
Why they are symbols

Did You Know?

Condors can live for decades.
They raise one chick every year or two.
Poison bait is a major threat.
Their bald heads stay clean when feeding.
Inca legends honored the condor.