Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

117-134 cm. Huge and unmistakable. Black with white wing-linings and silvery panel on upper secondaries. Head naked and orange/red. Immatures with black head and underwing mottled dark. Soars on horizontal wings with primaries curled up.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the California condor 

Map of Species occurrence

For the best experience, make sure that javascript is enabled and that you have the Adobe Flash Player installed Click here to download and install the Flash Player

Click here to see static map image

Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence
Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)

  • Population location: Entire, except where listed as an experimental population below
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur:  Arizona , California
    • US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
    • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:  BITTER CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, HOPPER MOUNTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX
    • For more information:  http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/life_histories/B002.html
  • Population location: U.S.A. (specific portions of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah)
    Listing status:  Experimental Population, Non-Essential
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
03/11/1967 California/Nevada Region (Region 8) Entire, except where listed as an experimental population below
10/16/1996 Pacific Region (Region 1) U.S.A. (specific portions of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 8: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/25/2009 74 FR 12878 12883 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
06/25/2004 69 FR 35663 34664 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit Associated with a Habitat Conservation Plan for the Federally Endangered California Condor
10/16/1996 61 FR 54045 54060 ETWP; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of California Condors in Northern Arizona
01/02/1996 61 FR 35 47 ETWP: Proposed Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of California Condors in Norther Arizona
09/22/1977 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Correction and Augumentation of Critical Habitat Reorganization; 42 FR 47840 47845
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title
10/16/1996 61 FR 54045 54060 ETWP; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of California Condors in Northern Arizona
01/02/1996 61 FR 35 47 ETWP: Proposed Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of California Condors in Norther Arizona

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
08/27/2009 California condor Spotlight Species Action Plan

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
04/25/1996 California Condor Recovery Plan, Third Revision View Implementation Progress Final Revision 3
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/25/2009 74 FR 12878 12883 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 3 of 3)
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    09/22/1977 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Correction and Augumentation of Critical Habitat Reorganization; 42 FR 47840 47845 Final Rule Final designated
    09/24/1976 41 FR 41914 Determination of Critical Habitat for American Crocodile, California Condor, Indiana Bat, and Florida Manatee; 41 FR 41914 (American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, California condor, Gymnogyps californianus; Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis; Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus) Final Rule Final designated
    12/16/1975 40 FR 58308 58312 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Snail Darter, American Crocodile, Whooping Crane, California Condor, Indiana Bat, and Florida Manatee; 40 FR 58308 58312 (Percina (Imostoma) sp., Crocodylus acutus, Grus americana, Gymnogyps californicus, Myotis sodalis, Trichechus manatus) Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 3 of 3)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Kern Water Bank
    Nuevo-Torch
    Seneca and Enron Oil and Gas

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the California condor.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: May 21, 2013