Which North American bird of prey has the continent’s longest wingspan?

The California condor has the longest wingspan of any North American land bird and bird of prey.

Its wings can span about 2.9 metres, allowing the condor to soar for long periods with very little flapping. Like other vultures, it searches for carrion rather than capturing live prey. Its broad wings and efficient soaring flight are especially valuable in the rugged landscapes of the southwestern United States.

The species once ranged widely across western North America, but hunting, poisoning, habitat change, and lead exposure drove it to the brink of extinction. By 1987, all remaining wild California condors had been brought into a captive-breeding program. Releases later returned birds to parts of California, Arizona, and Baja California.

The California condor is often confused with the Andean condor, which is native to South America and can have an even greater maximum wingspan. The California condor remains distinctive as North America’s largest soaring land bird and one of the world’s most prominent conservation-recovery stories.