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 

  • Population location: U.S.A. only, except where listed as an experimental population below
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  California
    • US Counties in which this population is known 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) U.S.A. only
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 54043 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 54043 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

» Recovery

Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Status
04/25/1996 California Condor Recovery Plan, Third Revision 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 Active
    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 Active
    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 12, 2009