California Condor
Gymnogyps californianus
New World Vultures (Cathartidae) · Cathartiformes (Cathartiformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse California Condor with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus | 1 |
| Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura | 1 |
Family
Cathartidae, commonly known as New World vultures and condors, are a family of birds of prey consisting of seven extant species in five genera. It includes five extant vultures and two extant condors found in the Americas. They are known as "New World" vultures to distinguish them from Old World vultures, with which the Cathartidae does not form a single clade despite the two being similar in appearance and behavior as a result of convergent evolution.
Order
Cathartiformes is a former order of scavenging birds which included the New World vultures and the now-extinct Teratornithidae. Unlike many Old World vultures, Cathartiformes lack talons and musculature in their feet suitable for seizing prey. In the past, they were considered to be a sister group to the storks of the order Ciconiiformes based on DNA–DNA hybridization and morphology.