Nests are found in cliffside caves or among rocky outcropping and clefts. Both parents care for the single egg and nestling. While G. californianus are not migratory, they cover a large amount of territory in search of food, always returning to the same nesting or roosting place. They do not have songs or vocalizations other than growling, grunting and hissing noises directed at other condors, in social situations like group roosting and feeding. When California condors are not caring for young, most of their time is taken up foraging for food and roosting.
Condors spend more time in a day roosting than flying.
This time is mostly taken up with preening or sunning. Sunning is done mostly first thing in the morning, when the condors warm up with the sun's rising. The black birds capture sunlight and warmth with extended wings turned to the sun. At watering holes, G. californianus are often seen bathing, using water to clean food and dust from their feathers. Preening and grooming the bare skin on their heads are particularly important to California condors because of their carrion diet.