Gymnogyps howardae (SciiFii)

The Peruvian condor (Gymnogyps howardae), also known as the piebald condor, is a species of condor and the only living condor of the Gymnogyps genus native to South America. The Peruvian condor originally lived from the Late Pleistocene (Lujanian) in what is now the Talara Tar Seeps, near Talara, northwestern Peru, and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout Peru to help boost biodiversity. As one of its common names suggests, the Peruvian condor has white colored body feathers, as opposed to usual black body feathers, and has a deep red coloration on its bald head, making it somewhat resembles a cross between a California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and the king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa). The Peruvian condor is a rather large bird, with the average wingspan between those of the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and those of the California condor. When in flight, Peruvian condors move remarkably gracefully. The lack of a large sternum to anchor their correspondingly large flight muscles restricts them to being primarily soarers. The birds flap their wings when taking off from the ground, but after attaining a moderate elevation they largely glide, sometimes going for miles without a single flap of their wings. They have been known to fly up to speeds of 90 km/h (56 mph) and as high as 4,600 m (15,100 ft). They prefer to roost on high perches from which they can launch without any major wing-flapping effort. Often, these birds are seen soaring near rock cliffs, using thermals to aid them in keeping aloft. The Peruvian condor has a long life span, reaching up to 60 years. If it survives to adulthood, the Peruvian condor has few natural threats other than humans. Because they lack a syrinx, their vocal display is limited to grunts and hisses. Peruvian condors bathe frequently and can spend hours a day preening their feathers. Peruvian condors also perform urohidrosis, or defecate on their legs, to reduce their body temperature. There is a well-developed social structure within large groups of Peruvian condors, with competition to determine a pecking order decided by body language, competitive play behavior, and a variety of hisses and grunts. This social hierarchy is displayed especially when the birds feed, with the dominant birds eating before the younger ones. The conservation status of the Peruvian condor is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Peruvian condor is a protected species and is making a comeback.