The Andean condor is a giant South American Cathartid vulture and is the only member of the genus Vultur. It is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan, with a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) and weight of 15 kg (33 lb). The female condor is smaller than the male, which is an exception to the rule among birds of prey. The Andean condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion, and prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and nests at elevations of up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft), generally on inaccessible rock ledges. One or two eggs are usually laid, and it is one of the worlds longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases.

The California condor is another species of condor, and it is the largest bird in North America. Both condors are very large broad-winged soaring birds, with the Andean condor being larger in wingspan and weight than the California condor. The Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. The California condor has a wingspan of about 109 inches, or 2.69 meters, and a weight of 8–14 kg.

Some interesting facts about the Andean condor include:

• It is the national bird of several South American countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.
• It is one of the worlds longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases.
• The Andean condor is part of the Inca trilogy, along with the snake and puma. Incas believed the condor was a sacred bird and represented the idea of heaven.
• Females have red eyes, while males have brown.
• They prefer to fly in windy areas, so they can glide along with the breeze.
• They sun themselves with their wings outspread to stay warm and keep their feathers healthy.
• They are principally carrion eaters, which means they eat animals that are already dead.

In summary, the Andean condor is a giant South American Cathartid vulture and the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion, and can live for over 70 years. The California condor is another species of condor and is the largest bird in North America.