c-o-n-d-o-r
CONDOR is a large New World vulture found in South America, known for having one of the largest wingspans of any bird. The word comes from Quechua "kuntur." There are two species: the Andean condor and the California condor. In word games, CONDOR is a 6-letter word worth 9 base points in Scrabble.
9
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
A CONDOR is a massive bird of prey belonging to the New World vulture family (Cathartidae), renowned for having one of the largest wingspans of any living bird. These magnificent creatures are scavengers that play a crucial ecological role by consuming carrion, thus helping to prevent the spread of disease and maintain ecosystem balance.
Condors are characterized by their enormous size, with wingspans reaching up to 10.5 feet (3.2 meters), their distinctive bald heads (which help keep them clean while feeding), and their exceptional soaring abilities. They can glide for hours without flapping their wings, using thermal currents and ridge lift to cover vast distances while searching for food.
Beyond their biological significance, condors have deep cultural importance for many South American indigenous peoples, often symbolizing power, freedom, and connection between earth and sky. The bird appears in numerous myths, legends, and national symbols, representing the majesty of the natural world and the spiritual realm.
The word condor comes from the Quechua word "kuntur" (or "cúntur"), the indigenous language of the Inca Empire and still spoken by millions in the Andes. The Quechua people have lived alongside these magnificent birds for thousands of years, developing a deep cultural and spiritual connection with them.
The word entered Spanish as "cóndor" during the colonial period as Spanish conquistadors encountered both the bird and indigenous descriptions of it. From Spanish, it passed into other European languages: French "condor," English "condor," and similar forms in other languages, maintaining the essential sound and meaning of the original Quechua term.
This etymological journey reflects the bird's profound importance to Andean cultures, where the condor is considered sacred and often associated with the sun god Inti. The preservation of the indigenous name in scientific and common usage worldwide honors this cultural heritage and the deep connection between the condor and the people of the Andes.
The larger and more widespread of the two species, found throughout the Andes Mountains from Venezuela to Chile and Argentina. Adult males can reach wingspans of 10.5 feet and weigh up to 33 pounds, making them among the heaviest flying birds in the world.
Once nearly extinct, this species has been brought back from just 27 individuals in 1987 through intensive conservation efforts. Slightly smaller than the Andean condor but still massive, with wingspans reaching 9.5 feet.
Condors prefer mountainous regions with strong thermal currents that allow them to soar effortlessly. They nest on cliff faces and rocky outcrops, choosing locations that provide protection from predators and weather while offering easy access to air currents for takeoff.
As obligate scavengers, condors feed exclusively on carrion. Their excellent eyesight allows them to spot carcasses from great distances, and they often follow other scavengers to feeding sites. Their strong stomach acid enables them to safely consume meat that might be toxic to other animals.
Condors are generally solitary but may gather in groups at large carcasses or roosting sites. They have complex social hierarchies, with older, larger birds typically dominating feeding opportunities. Their courtship displays involve elaborate aerial performances and ground rituals.
Condors have one of the slowest reproductive rates of any bird, laying only one egg every two years. Both parents share incubation duties for about 60 days, and the chick remains dependent on its parents for up to two years, contributing to the species' vulnerability.
The California Condor Recovery Program represents one of conservation biology's greatest achievements. Through captive breeding, habitat protection, and intensive management, the species has been pulled back from the brink of extinction. Current efforts focus on establishing self-sustaining wild populations.
Conservation work includes monitoring wild populations, maintaining genetic diversity in captive breeding programs, habitat preservation, public education, and working with hunters to use lead-free ammunition. International cooperation is essential for protecting Andean condors across their range.
•CONDOR is worth 9 base points in Scrabble, with the C and D providing good scoring potential
•Condors can soar to altitudes over 18,000 feet, higher than most commercial aircraft fly
•The California condor is numbered #1 on the American Birding Association's Code 6 list—the rarest North American birds
•Condors can live over 70 years, among the longest lifespans of any bird species
•The condor is the national bird of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia, reflecting its cultural importance
"The condor circled high above the Andean peaks, its massive wings catching the thermal currents."
— Natural history context
"Conservation biologists celebrated as another condor chick fledged successfully from the breeding program."
— Conservation context
"Playing CONDOR on the triple word score earned me 27 points!"
— Word game context
"In Andean mythology, the condor represents the connection between earth and sky."
— Cultural context
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 9 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 (O, O) | Consonants: 4 (C, N, D, R)
Pattern: CVCCVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant-Consonant-Vowel-Consonant)
Strategic value: C and D provide moderate point values for premium square placement
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like CONDOR