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- Secretary Bird The Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large raptor related to hawks and eagles. This large, terrestrial bird of prey is endemic to the open grasslands in sub-saharan Africa. The Secretary Bird is famed for being the prominent emblem of Sudan and South Africa and appears on both nations coat of arms.
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Explore Secretarybird. Take Merlin with you in the field! Free, global bird ID and field guide app powered by your sightings and media. A distinctive, tall, long-legged, crane-like raptor with unique quill-like plumes on its head and bright-red facial skin.
- Secretary Bird Profile
- Interesting Secretary Bird Facts
- Secretary Bird Fact-File Summary
The secretarybird or secretary bird(Sagittarius serpentarius) is an African, primarily terrestrial, bird of prey. It is related to birds like vultures, hawks, and harriers. It has a distinctive appearance, as it has the body of an eagle, but the legs of a crane. These long legs make it tall, sometimes up to 1.3m.
1. No one is quite sure where it got its name.
There are a few different theories, including that it was named by Dutch Settlers because of its resemblance to 19th Century Lawyers’ Secretaries. Another theory suggests that the name is a corruption of an originally Arabic word, meaning “hunter bird”. 1
2. Its scientific name means “the archer of snakes”.
This is because secretary birds love to hunt snakes. They use their large wingspan to distract the snake, while their scaley legs prevent snake bites.
3. They rarely fly.
They move around on foot most of the time, only taking to the air to reach their nests or for courtship displays.
Scientific Classification
1. Glenn I. Shoot the Messager? How the Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius got its names (mostly wrong). Ostrich. 2018;89(3):287-290. doi:10.2989/00306525.2018.1499561 2. Portugal SJ, Murn CP, Sparkes EL, Daley MA. The fast and forceful kicking strike of the secretary bird. Curr Biol. 2016;26(2):R58-R59. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.004 3. Naish D. Secretary Birds: Weird, but Actually Not That Weird – Scientific American Blog Network. Accessed March 24, 2021.
Secretary bird, (Sagittarius serpentarius), bird of prey (family Sagittaridae) of the dry uplands of Africa, the only living bird of prey of terrestrial habits. It is a long-legged bird, with a slender but powerful body 1.2 m (3.9 feet) long and a 2.1-metre (6.9-foot) wingspread. Twenty black crest.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Secretary birds are diurnal carnivorous raptors who feed up on a variety of prey. They are famous for their ability to kill snakes on the African grasslands. The secretary bird may travel over 30 kilometres a day in search of snakes, insects and other animals.
The secretary bird is an iconic African bird that’s found in the grasslands, savannas, and even shrublands in sub-Saharan Africa. They are large birds that impress with their size, and stand out from the crowd with their incredible resilience and focus.
Dec 11, 2020 · Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius. EN Endangered. Names (28) Monotypic. Version: 1.1 — Published December 11, 2020. Sign in. Account. Field Identification. Systematics History. Subspecies. Distribution. Habitat. Movement. Diet and Foraging. Sounds and Vocal Behavior. Vocalizations. Nonvocal Sounds. Breeding. Conservation Status.
Oct 16, 2020 · The secretary bird is a species of terrestrial bird of prey native to the open grasslands and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only living species belonging to the family Sagittariidae.
