It is threatened by habitat loss and by secondary poisoning from lead in carcasses killed by hunters. The Andean condor is considered vulnerable by the IUCN. The Andean condor is a national symbol of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the Andean regions. It is one of the world's longest-living birds, with a lifespan of over 70 years in some cases. 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. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. The female condor is smaller than the male, an exception to the rule among birds of prey. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. It is generally considered as the largest bird of prey in the world. It has a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) and weight of 15 kg (33 lb). Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. The Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus) is a giant South American Cathartid vulture and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Vultur fossilis Moreno & Mercerat, 1891.Sarcorhamphus aequatorialis Sharpe, 1874.
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