THE ANDEAN CULTURE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES WITH THE KONDORn

The ANDEAN CULTURE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES WITH THE KONDOR. The great MALKU KAPAK ( first leader of the INKA DYNASTY) accepted this sacred bird and recognized in
it the same SUN (Inti).
The KONDOR's WINGSPAN IS SO IMPRESSIVE that just TO SEE IT FLY FILLS US with an
intense EMOTION. Seeing a BIRD APPROXIMATELY FOUR METERS LONG with ITS WINGS
EXTENDED approaching us overwhelm us.
The KONDOR's stories are varied. They represent a model of interdependence and necessity.
In order TO ELEVATE ITSELF OFF THE GROUND, the KONDOR NEEDS WARM AIR currents originating in the valleys and flowing upwards towards the heights of snow-capped mountain peaks.
The interesting fact is that THE KONDOR IS NOT CAPABLE OF FLYING AS WELL AS OTHER SPECIES OF BIRDS.  IT MOVES and GLIDES WELL ONLY WITH THE HELP OF WARM WINDS, the kind found in mild climate areas. For this reason the KONDOR ALWAYS LOOKS FOR VALLEYS,  WARM CLIMATES, and other PLACES WHERE WARM WINDS ARE FOUND. The KONDOR DOES NOT have the same skill possessed by other birds of its kind to
ASCEND AND DESCEND IN THE AIR.  It RELIES ON THE WIND for BALANCE and maintaining its EQUILIBRIUM when leaving the ground.
The KONDOR , before BEFORE BEGINNING TO FLY, he PREFERS TO GLIDE with elegance
and majesty.
The Andean culture, and by extension THE INKAS identified themselves with THE KONDOR,  a BIRD that EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST VIRTUES ACHIEVABLE BY MAN AND A BIRD
THAT HELD THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR HIS OWN PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE.
Comparing with the Hummingbird's ability to fly, these two birds are opposite. The Hummingbird is one of few birds with an outstanding freedom of motion attributed to the agility of its wings. The bird is also capable of flying backwards.