Question 1

True or false: Andean condors are primarily scavengers that rarely kill live prey.

Accepted Answer

True. They are obligate scavengers, feeding on carcasses. They lack strong talons for killing, so they avoid live prey.

Question 2

True or false: Male Andean condors have a fleshy comb on their head that grows larger with age.

Accepted Answer

True. This comb, called a caruncle, is a sign of maturity and dominance. Older males have noticeably bigger combs.

Question 3

True or false: Andean condors have a wingspan that can exceed 10 feet.

Accepted Answer

True. The largest wingspan recorded is about 10.5 feet (3.2 meters), making them one of the widest of any land bird.

Question 4

True or false: Andean condors can fly for up to 5 hours without flapping their wings once.

Accepted Answer

True. They use thermal updrafts to soar, and their wings are designed for gliding. Flights of several hours without flapping are common.

Question 5

True or false: The Andean condor is the heaviest flying bird in the world.

Accepted Answer

False. That title belongs to the great bustard. The Andean condor is among the heaviest, but not the heaviest.

Question 6

True or false: Andean condors can live over 70 years in the wild.

Accepted Answer

False. In the wild, they typically live 50–60 years. Captive condors may reach 70, but not in wild conditions.

Question 7

True or false: The Andean condor is the national symbol of five South American countries.

Accepted Answer

False. It is the national bird of only four: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. Not five.

Question 8

True or false: Andean condors can turn their heads nearly 360 degrees.

Accepted Answer

False. They have flexible necks but can only rotate about 180 degrees. Full 360-degree rotation is not anatomically possible.

Andean Condor Trivia Questions