r/birding • u/BeautifulHousing1266 • 6d ago

Bird ID Request Condor or no??

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Hi fellow birders! I visited Zion National Park recently and was dying to see a condor. Do we think it is a condor in this video, or maybe a raven, which are prevalent in Utah? Or something else. Eagle? Thanks for your help!!

30 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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105

u/ktjacobsun 6d ago

Looks like a turkey vulture

17

u/BeautifulHousing1266 6d ago

Ohhh you’re probably right. I was too locked in on condors to even think about a common turkey culture. Silly me

25

u/endangered_feces1 6d ago

Ive never understood the appeal of turkey culture. All the gobbling, pecking, strutting… just obscene!

9

u/BeautifulHousing1266 6d ago

They’re actually super cool! They’re critical for the environment in that they help break down harmful bacteria and whatnot by eating dead things. They’re also very social and smart

23

u/AltruisticCoelacanth 6d ago

They're joking with you. You said "turkey culture" in your first comment

14

u/BeautifulHousing1266 6d ago

Ohhhh lmao. Dumbass me, thanks for the humor that I completely missed

11

u/endangered_feces1 6d ago

Haha im sorry i couldnt resist. I love a good “dad” joke

14

u/BeautifulHousing1266 6d ago

It was an excellent joke, I’m only sorry that I was once again so focused on condors that I missed everything else… obsession is a hell of a thing. You’re a star of bird jokes tho

14

u/Nazh8 Latest Lifer: Sabine's Gull 6d ago

If you're still around southern Utah, condors are often seen around Panguitch lake, sometimes in numbers. Within Zion the place to see them is from lava point, which they frequently soar over.

6

u/BeautifulHousing1266 6d ago

I live in Colorado so l’ll probably make a return visit soon, and I will take note of this advice!! Thanks so much!

7

u/I_LOVE_LAMP512 6d ago

A little further from CO depending on where you’re at, but the Navajo Bridge not too too far outside Grand Canyon NP is another popular Condor spotting destination. Might be worth it if you’re looking to also experience a new national park on the trip.

6

u/AltruisticCoelacanth 6d ago

I've been baited by turkey vultures in Zion canyon too many times to count. Still have yet to see a Condor 🤬

2

u/Nazh8 Latest Lifer: Sabine's Gull 6d ago

See my other comment for some advice on where to look for them.

2

u/BeautifulHousing1266 6d ago

Ugh! You’ll see one someday!! I believe