What is the Largest Bird of Prey?

The largest bird of prey is something which is often disputed. That's because the word "largest" can be somewhat vague; are you measuring wingspan? Weight? And what exactly classifies a bird of prey? With so many endangered birds vying for the title of largest bird of pray, it's possible that some of these species could disappear before long. Here is one way to answer the question of what type of bird is the largest bird of prey.

The Andean condor, also called the Bolivian condor or the Chilean condor, is often considered to be the largest bird of prey. Other birds have some larger measurements than the Andean condor, for example, the average California condor is longer than the Andean condor, but when you factor in length, wing span and weight, the Andean condor generally comes out on top.

The Andean condor has a wingspan of roughly nine to ten feet, can be up to 53 inches long and can weigh up to 33 pounds. It can live to be up to 50 years old.

The Andean condor is a type of vulture which can be found in the Andes mountains. Its body is black with what looks kind of like a collar of white feathers. The Andean condor has a featherless red head and neck.

This enormous bird of prey eats large animals; deer and cows are among its favorites. It locates its prey by following other animals to the carcasses of its next meal. The Andean condor can go without eating for days but will then eat a large amount at once.

Unfortunately the Andean condor is considered near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Near-threatened means that the animal may reach a threatened status, but it hasn't quite reached that point yet. The biggest threats to the Andean condor are the loss of their homes and poisoning from the animals they eat.