Lewis and Clark Expedition California Condor Observations

Source: Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Rubin Gold Thwaites,
Antiquarian Press Ltd., N.Y., 1959

In order of appearance in the Journals.

Remarks for October, 1805 (found in the Codex I, p.29 and Clark-Voorhis note-book No. 4.)

October 28th,  a violent wind  a moderate rain commenced at 4 oClock P.M. and continued 
until 8 P.M. first Vulture of the Columbia seen today.

October 29th, rained moderately all day. I shot at a vulture

November 18th, Cloudy  R. Field kille a Vulture

[ Clark:] Sunday February 16th 1806

Head of "Vulture of the Columbia" sketch drawn by Clark, Monday, February 16th, 1806.


"... Shannon an[d] Labiesh brought in to us today a Buzzard or Vulture of the Columbia which
they wounded and taken alive. I believe this to be the largest Bird of North America. it was 
not it good order and yet it wayed 25 lbs. had it have been so it might very well have weighed
1o lb. more or 35 lbs. between the extremities of the wings it measured 9 feet 2 Inches; from 
the extremity of the beak to that of the toe 3 feet 9 inches and half.  from hip to toe 2 feet,
girth of head 9 inches 3/4. Girth of the neck 7 1/2 inches; Girth of the body exclusive of the 
wings 2 feet 3 inches; girth of the leg 3 inches. the diameterof the eye 4 1/2 tenths of an 
inch, the iris of a pale scarlet red, the pupleof a deep sea green or black and occupies about
one third of the eye  the head and part of the neck as low as the figures 1.2. is uncovered with 
feathers except that the portion of it represented by dots foward and under the eye. the tail
is composed of twelve feathers of equal length, each 14 inches. the legs ar 4 3/4 inches in 
length and of a whitish colour uncovered with feathers, they are not entirely smooth but not
imbricated; the toes are four in number three of which are forward and that in the center much
the longest; the fourth is short and is inserted near the inner of the three other toes and 
rather projecting foward.  the thyeis covered with feathers as low as the knee.  the top or 
upper part of the toes are imbricated with broad scales lying transversly,  the nails are black
and in proportion to the size of the bird comparitively with those of the Hawk or Eagle, short
and bluntly pointed.  the undeside of the wing, imbraceing the lower points of the feathers, 
which [c]over the joints of the wing through their whole length or width of that part of the 
wing.  all the other feathers of whatever part are of a Glossy shineing black except the down, 
which is not glossy, but equally black.  the skin of the beak and head to the joining of the 
neck is of a pale orrange Yellow, the other part uncovered with feathers is of a light flesh
colour.  the skin is thin and wrinkled except on the beak where it is smooth.  This bird fly's
very clumsily, nor do I know whether it ever seizes it's prey alive, but am induced to believe
it does not.  we have seen it feeding on the remains of the whale and other fish which have been
thrown up by the waves on the sea coast.  these I believe constitute their principal food, but
I have no doubt but that they also feed on flesh. we did not meet this bird un[t]ill we had 
decended the Columbia below the great falls, and have found them more abundant below tide water
than above.  this is the same species of Bird which R. Field killed on the 18th of Nov. last
and which is noticed on that day tho'not fully discribed then I thought this of Buzzard species.
I now believe that this bird is reather of the Vulture genus than the other, tho' it wants
some of their characteristics particularly the hair on the neck, and the feathers on the legs.(1)
this is a handsom bird at a little distance. it's neck i proportionably longer than those of the 
Hawks or Eagle.  Shannon also brought a Grey Eagle which appeared to be of the same kind common
to the U. States. it weighed  15pds. and measured 7 feet 7 inches between extremities of the 
wings. Shannon and Labeish informed us that when he approached the Vulture after wounding it, 
that it made a loud noise very much like the barking of a Dog.  the tongue is long firm and 
broad, filling the under Chap and partakeing of its transvirs curvature, or its sides forming
a longitudinal Groove; obtuse at the point, the Margin armed with firm cartelagenous prickkles
pointed and bending inwards."

[Lewis:]  Monday February 17th, 1806

"....Shannon & Labuishe brought me one of the large carrion Crow or Buzza[r]ds of the Columbia
which they had wounded and taken alive. I b[e]lieve this to be the largest bird of North America.
it was not in good order and yet it weighed 25 lbs. had it have been so it might very well have
weighed 10 lbs. or mor[e] or 35 lbs. between the extremities of the wings it measured 9 feet 2
inches; from the extremity of the beak to that of the toe 3 F.9 1/2In. from hip to toe 2 feet, 
girth of head 9 3/4 In. girth of neck 7 1/2 inches; d. of body exclusive fo the wings 2 feet
3 Inches; d. of leg 3 inches. diameter of the eye 4 1/2 tenths of an inch. the iris of a pale
scarlet red, the puple of deep sea green or black and occupyed about one third of the diameter
of the eye. the head and a part of......"

Head of "Buzzard of Columbia" sketch drawn by Lewis, Monday, February 17th, 1806.

(1) This is the California vulture (Pseuogryphus, or Cathartes, californianus) ; as Clark says,
it is one of the largest birds of the American continent.--ED