Why it represents the country
An Andean condor with its wings spread crowns the coat of arms of Colombia. The coat of arms was set by Law 3 of 9 May 1834. The condor holds a green laurel wreath in its beak, and a ribbon woven through the wreath carries the national motto, Libertad y Orden, which means Freedom and Order.
The condor is often called Colombia's national bird. It is a symbol shared by several Andean countries: it also appears on the coats of arms of Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador. For all of them, the great bird stands for the high mountains that run through the region.
In Colombia the condor lives in the Andes, which split into three mountain ranges as they cross the country. It has become rare there, and that gives the symbol a second meaning. Protecting the condor has become part of protecting Colombia's highlands.
About the animal
The Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world. Its wingspan can reach about 3.2 meters, among the longest of any land bird, and adults usually weigh 8 to 15 kilograms, which makes it one of the heaviest birds that can fly. It lives along the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America, and in some coastal areas.
Adults are black, with large white patches on the wings and a fluffy white ruff around the base of the neck. The head and neck are bare, which helps keep them clean while feeding. Males have a large fleshy comb on the head and brown eyes. Females have no comb and red eyes.
Condors are scavengers and feed mostly on the bodies of dead animals, both wild and domestic. They search for food from the air and often watch where smaller vultures gather. Their flight is very efficient. One study found that condors flap their wings only about 1 percent of the time they are flying. The rest of the time they ride rising warm air and winds along mountain slopes.
Condors breed very slowly. A pair nests on a bare cliff ledge and lays a single egg only every two to three years. The chick takes six or seven months to fly and stays with its parents for about two years. Condors do not breed until they are at least six years old, and they can live for 50 years or more in the wild.
Conservation
The Andean condor is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In 2020 its category was raised from Near Threatened, because numbers are falling and the world population is estimated at only about 10,000 birds.
The main threats are poisoning, persecution and the loss of habitat. Some condors eat carcasses laced with poison meant for other animals, and others swallow lead from bullets in animals left by hunters. Some farmers wrongly believe that condors kill livestock and shoot them. Because condors breed so slowly, even a few deaths can make a population shrink.
In Colombia and Venezuela the condor has become very rare. Reintroduction programs in Colombia have released condors bred in captivity into the high mountains. Young condors in such programs are often fed with hand puppets shaped like adult condors, so that they do not become used to people. Protecting highland habitats and working with local communities help give these birds a better chance.
Fun facts
- The Andean condor has one of the longest wingspans of any land bird, up to about 3.2 meters.
- A condor can soar for hours while flapping its wings only about 1 percent of the time.
- An Andean condor in a zoo lived to about 79 years old, one of the greatest ages known for any bird.
Other national symbols of Colombia
- National flower
Christmas orchid (flor de mayo) Cattleya trianae National symbol
Colombia's national flower, the orchid Cattleya trianae, was chosen in 1936 on the advice of the Colombian Academy of History.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national bird of Colombia?
The national bird of Colombia is the Andean condor (a widely recognized national symbol, not set by law). It is one of the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan of up to about 3.2 meters, and it lives along the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia to Tierra del Fuego.
Which country has the Andean condor as its national bird?
The Andean condor is the national bird of Colombia. The same species is also the national bird of Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador.
Why is the Andean condor the national bird of Colombia?
An Andean condor with its wings spread crowns Colombia's coat of arms, set by Law 3 of 9 May 1834, holding a laurel wreath with the national motto Libertad y Orden (Freedom and Order). It is a symbol shared with Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador, where the great bird stands for the high mountains that run through the region.
Is the Andean condor endangered?
The Andean condor is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, raised from Near Threatened in 2020 because numbers are falling and the world population is estimated at only about 10,000 birds. In Colombia it has become very rare, and reintroduction programs have released condors bred in captivity into the high mountains.
Where does the Andean condor live?
High Andean mountains, cliffs and open grasslands, and some Pacific coasts.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Andean condor.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Vultur gryphus (assessment 2020).
- Presidencia de la República de Colombia – Símbolos patrios (archived).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
