California s are the largest birds in North America. They may weigh up to 25 pounds and have wingspans of 9 1/2 feet. California s have bare heads and necks, dull gray-black feathers, and blunt claws. They have a triangle-shaped patch of white, visible only when airborne, that adorns the underside of their wings. California s can soar on warm thermal updrafts for hours, reaching speeds of more than 55 miles per hour and altitudes of 15,000 feet. Normally, California s do not become sexually mature until the age of 6 and may not start breedin ....