I was watching doco on Patagonia and it was mentioned that Condors take five years to get adult plumage and I wondered why. I thought of an Australian species like Pacific Gull which also takes five years? to get adult plumage and checked in HANZAB but couldn’t find anything relevant to why. Reasons I could think of why any bird would take so long to get adult plumage were: 1. long learning process to be independent 2. shortage of territories 3.social organisation being subordinate to dominant adults/cooperative breeding
I don’t think any of these apply to Pacific Gulls.(don’t know anything about Condors) Can anyone shed some light on the reasons for such a lengthy period of immature plumage and I assume lengthy period before breeding?
Gary ===============================
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