About condors...

Condors are the largest flying birds in North America: their wing span can stretch to nearly ten feet! Their huge wings help these big birds fly. They get a boost from wind currents to help them reach heights of up to 15,000 feet: about half as high as an airplane flies.

Condors are a type of vulture and, just like other vultures, they feed on carrion: the remains of dead animals, such as deer or cattle. Condors can be identified by their huge wings and bald heads. Their necks and faces feature very few feathers, to help them keep clean as they pick apart their food. The skin on condors' heads and necks can be white, yellow or pink, and some condors can blush: their skin turns a darker pink to help them communicate emotions to one another.

Meet the condor...

"Ground control, we are preparing for landing! Coming in.

What a great day for flying! There's no better - or faster - way to travel. I can fly hundreds of miles on each round-trip flight (the trip being from my nest to any source of food). With my wingspan of nearly ten feet, you could say I'm the captain of these skies. Here, near the coast of California, there's certainly a beautiful view.

Although several aircraft are named after yours truly, I don't actually fly like a plane. For me, the wind does most of the work. Once I reach maximum altitude while coasting on wind currents, I just glide for a few hours and enjoy the friendly skies. I can fly as high as some clouds. If you think clouds look amazing from the ground, you should see them from up here!  I look pretty good from up here, too. Roger, over and out."