El Condor Pasa

Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) are the largest flying land birds in the world. I have seen them before in Argentina but here, in the Colca Valley, you can get a close-up view of these magnificent birds as they rise on the morning thermals.

Condors can live for 50 years or more but their numbers are declining in much of their range.


Mature males (left) sport white wing-tips and a white collar, as well as a dark red comb on their heads.


I could have watched them longer but within an hour they had all disappeared into the the canyon on their search for animal carcasses to consume.