California condors are critically endangered birds native to the West Coast of North America. They have the largest wingspan of any North American land bird, up to 9.5 feet. They are social, long-lived (up to 60 years), and reproduce slowly, laying one egg every two years.
Their population dropped to just 22 individuals in the 1980s, but captive breeding and reintroduction programs have helped numbers recover. They are scavengers that feed on large mammal carcasses, nest on cliffs, and hold cultural significance for several Native American tribes.