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California Condor Sighting (1 Viewer)

asmidkif

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Hi this is my first post on the forum. I am an Arizona State University student and while I was driving to work today I spotted what looked like a California Condor perched on a sound retaining wall along the 101 in Tempe. I only got a glimpse but it was a large black bird with no feathers on its head and when I pulled up a picture of a California Condor it looked exactly like what I had seen. I know there are California Condors in Northern Arizona by the Grand Canyon but I haven't heard of them being this far south. I was wondering if anyone had heard of California Condors being spotted in this area?
 
Thanks for the link. It looked similar to the turkey vulture but its head was black not red and the color of the feathers were a little darker.
 
Welcome to Birforum. Black Vulture is more likely, even though they are scarce where you live. It may have seemed a large bird but Californian Condors are humongous. It would have looked like a teenager in Halloween costume sitting there ( maybe not that big but, compared to other birds you'd find in the same situation, very noticeably 'huge').

Chris
 
Thanks for the link. It looked similar to the turkey vulture but its head was black not red and the color of the feathers were a little darker.
Well, juvenile Turkey Vulture then? They have dark heads.

I know that there aren't going to be any at that age in the north, but in Calfornia, the breeding cycle might be quite different.
 
Condor or Turkey Vulture?

Hi this is my first post on the forum. I am an Arizona State University student and while I was driving to work today I spotted what looked like a California Condor perched on a sound retaining wall along the 101 in Tempe. I only got a glimpse but it was a large black bird with no feathers on its head and when I pulled up a picture of a California Condor it looked exactly like what I had seen. I know there are California Condors in Northern Arizona by the Grand Canyon but I haven't heard of them being this far south. I was wondering if anyone had heard of California Condors being spotted in this area?

Not sure this will be of any help? Photo taken at Grand Canyon...a Condor with attendant Common Ravens. I was amazed by the size! Also EVERY Condor I saw (about 8) had wing-tags. I was in Arizona for 3 weeks and did see a lot of Turkey Vultures. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) more-or-less anything is possible in the birding world e.g. a Tufted Puffin near the River Thames!
 

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