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California Condor

Gymnogyps californianus

Bird · family Cathartidae · order Cathartiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G1: critically imperiled[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

California Condor
Photo: Stacy from San Diego, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G1 Critically Imperiled[2]
Native in
2 states[3]
Longest recorded life
45 years[4]

The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a bird in the family Cathartidae[5]. It is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe ranks it Critically Imperiled[1][2].

Conservation status

Under the US Endangered Species Act, the California Condor is Endangered. It was listed on March 11, 1967[1]. Some groups in parts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California and Oregon are treated as Experimental Population, Non-Essential[6][7]. NatureServe gives it a global rank of G1 and a US rank of N1, both meaning Critically Imperiled[2][8]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Critically endangered[9]. NatureServe estimates the total adult population at 1 to 50 individuals[10].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed March 11, 1967 (Wherever found, except where listed as an experimental population)
Endangered Species Act[6] Experimental Population, Non-Essential, listed May 5, 2019 (U.S.A. (Oregon, and specific portions of northern California and northwest Nevada))
Endangered Species Act[7] Experimental Population, Non-Essential, listed October 16, 1996 (U.S.A. (specific portions of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah)-see 17.84(j))
NatureServe global rank[2] G1 (Critically Imperiled)
NatureServe US rank[8] N1 (Critically Imperiled)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[9] Critically endangered
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[11] Protected
CITES (international trade)[12] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 1 to 50 individuals

Where California Condor lives

NatureServe lists the California Condor as native in California and Utah[3]. It ranks the bird as extirpated or possibly extirpated, meaning gone from the state, in Arizona, Oregon and Washington[13]. The Endangered listing covers Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah[1]. The Experimental Population listings name parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington[6][7]. GBIF observation records come mostly from California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Florida, which reflects where people report birds[14].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank S2CAUtah: native, state rank S1UTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SX,S1AZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[15].
Show state ranks (5 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaSX,S1Presumed Extirpated, Critically Imperiled
CaliforniaS2Imperiled
OregonSXPresumed Extirpated
UtahS1Critically Imperiled
WashingtonSXPresumed Extirpated

Habitat

NatureServe records the California Condor in woodland (hardwood, conifer and mixed), shrubland and chaparral, savanna, grassland, cliff and aerial habitat[16]. Its usual home is mountainous country with rocky, brushy ground and cliffs for nest sites[17]. For feeding it needs fairly open ground, which helps with taking off and landing[18].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[16]

Size, diet and lifespan

The California Condor is a carnivore that eats carrion, which means animals that are already dead[19][20]. NatureServe notes that it feeds mostly on mammal carcasses[18]. A typical adult is about 119 cm (47 in) long[21]. It weighs about 22 lb[22]. A female reaches sexual maturity at about 2,190 days[23]. The typical clutch is 1 egg, and incubation takes 57 days[24][25]. The longest recorded lifespan is 45 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[21] 119 cm (47 in)
Typical adult weight[22] 10.1 kg (22 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 45 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[24] 1
Gestation or incubation[25] 57 days
Female maturity[23] 2,190 days (about 6.0 years)
Food habits[19] Carnivore
Migration[26] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[20]

  • 100% carrion

When to look for it

The California Condor is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[27]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, although populations can differ[26]. GBIF records are highest in March, April and May[28]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[28].

January: 2,029 recordsJanFebruary: 2,097 recordsFebMarch: 3,201 recordsMarApril: 3,663 recordsAprMay: 3,168 recordsMayJune: 2,784 recordsJunJuly: 2,244 recordsJulAugust: 2,505 recordsAugSeptember: 2,894 recordsSepOctober: 2,502 recordsOctNovember: 1,788 recordsNovDecember: 1,565 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January2,029
February2,097
March3,201
April3,663
May3,168
June2,784
July2,244
August2,505
September2,894
October2,502
November1,788
December1,565

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Florida[14]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the California Condor endangered?
Yes. It is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it Critically Imperiled[2][8].
Where does the California Condor live?
NatureServe lists it as native in California and Utah[3]. It is ranked as gone or possibly gone in Arizona, Oregon and Washington[13].
What does the California Condor eat?
It eats carrion, which is the meat of dead animals[19][20]. It feeds mostly on mammal carcasses[18].
How big is a California Condor?
A typical adult is about 119 cm (47 in) long[21]. It weighs about 22 lb[22].
How long does a California Condor live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 45 years in the wild[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, California condor has the status Endangered, listed March 11, 1967 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Wherever found, except where listed as an experimental population. States in the listed range: Arizona, California, Nevada,... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for California Condor: G1 (Critically Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists California Condor as native in 2 US states and territories: California, Utah. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 45 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a bird in the family Cathartidae, order Cathartiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Under the US Endangered Species Act, California condor has the status Experimental Population, Non-Essential, listed May 5, 2019 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: U.S.A. (Oregon, and specific portions of northern California and northwest Nevada). States in the... USFWS ECOS
  7. Under the US Endangered Species Act, California condor has the status Experimental Population, Non-Essential, listed October 16, 1996 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: U.S.A. (specific portions of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah)-see 17.84(j). States in the listed... USFWS ECOS
  8. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N1 (Critically Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  9. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Critically endangered. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 1 to 50 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. California Condor is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  12. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe ranks California Condor as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Arizona, Oregon, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  14. US states with the most GBIF observation records of California Condor: California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Florida. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  15. NatureServe state ranks for California Condor (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Habitat types NatureServe records for California Condor: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Cliff, Aerial. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on habitat for California Condor. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on food for California Condor. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% carrion. EltonTraits 1.0
  21. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 119 cm (47 in). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 10.1 kg (22 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,190 days (about 6.0 years). AnAge
  24. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  25. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 57 days. AnAge
  26. NatureServe migration category for California Condor: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  27. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  28. GBIF observation records of California Condor in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Stacy from San Diego, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.