Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

BirdBird of preySavanna

Overview

The secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is one of the most unusual birds of prey — a tall, long-legged raptor that hunts on foot across the open grasslands of Africa. It stands over a metre high, with an eagle-like head and hooked bill, a crest of long quill-like feathers behind the head, and striking black “trousers” on its long legs. Though it can fly well, it spends much of its day striding across the savanna in search of prey.

It is most famous for its hunting style: the secretarybird kills snakes and other prey by stamping on them with rapid, powerful kicks.

Conservation note: the secretarybird has declined and is assessed as Endangered, mainly from habitat loss and degradation. Verify current status at iucnredlist.org.

Habitat & Range

Secretarybirds live across much of sub-Saharan Africa in open country — savanna, grassland, and lightly wooded plains — where there is room to walk and hunt. They avoid dense forest and prefer wide, open landscapes, and they roost and nest in scattered low trees such as flat-topped acacias.

Diet

Secretarybirds are carnivores that hunt a wide range of ground prey: insects (especially grasshoppers and beetles), small mammals such as rodents and hares, lizards, birds' eggs and chicks, and snakes — including venomous ones. They flush prey by walking briskly through the grass and then dispatch it on the ground.

Behavior

The secretarybird's signature technique is stamping: it strikes prey with extremely fast, forceful kicks of its strong feet, delivering blows powerful enough to stun or kill snakes and other animals while keeping its head safely out of reach. It hunts mostly on foot, covering long distances each day, but flies up to roost and to perform a high, undulating courtship display. Pairs build large stick nests atop thorny trees.

Human Interaction & Conservation

The secretarybird is admired across Africa as a charismatic snake-hunter and appears on national emblems, including the coats of arms of South Africa and Sudan. Its decline — driven largely by the loss and degradation of grassland habitat, along with other pressures — has raised real conservation concern. Consult the IUCN Red List for current status.

Compare With Related Animals

Side-by-side comparisons covering identification, taxonomy, habitat and behaviour.

Osprey vs Secretary BirdContrasting adaptations

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More photos of the secretarybird

A secretarybird walking through open savanna in the Serengeti. — Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius), Serengeti.
Image: Thomas Fuhrmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sourced facts

Each value below is traced to the specific reference that states it, listed at the end of this section. Reviewed 2026-09-22.

Sourced facts about the Secretarybird, with the reference supporting each
Fact	What the source states	Source
Body size	Stands about 0.9–1.2 m tall; wingspan 1.20–1.32 m in females and 1.26–1.35 m in males	Animal Diversity Web
Weight	2.3–4.27 kg	Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	About 18.6 years in captivityA captive figure. The account states no wild lifespan, and one is not inferred here.	Animal Diversity Web
Geographic range	Africa south of the Sahara, except the extreme deserts of the Namib coast and the forested equatorial region of West Africa	Animal Diversity Web
Habitat	Open savanna and grassland, and also semi-desert and lightly wooded or scrub country, from sea level to about 3,000 m	Animal Diversity Web
Diet	Mainly arthropods and small mammals, plus small and young birds, eggs, amphibians, freshwater crabs, lizards, small tortoises, chameleons and snakes	Animal Diversity Web
Activity pattern	Diurnal, becoming active about two hours after sunrise and returning to roost in the late afternoon	Animal Diversity Web
Social structure	Sometimes solitary, more often in pairs or family groups of up to five	Animal Diversity Web

References for the facts above

UniversityAnimal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of ZoologySupports: Body size, mass, lifespan, geographic range, habitat, diet, activity pattern and social structure. Retrieved 2026-09-22.Limitations: A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.

Frequently Asked Questions — Secretarybird

How does a secretarybird kill snakes?

By stamping. The secretarybird strikes its prey with extremely rapid, powerful kicks of its strong legs and feet, delivering blows hard enough to stun or kill snakes and other animals. Hunting on foot and striking from a distance helps keep its head and body away from a snake's fangs.

Is the secretarybird really a bird of prey?

Yes. Despite its long legs and ground-walking habits, the secretarybird is a true raptor, with an eagle-like hooked bill and sharp talons. It is unusual mainly in that it hunts mostly on foot across open ground rather than swooping from the air.

Why is it called a secretarybird?

The name is usually linked to the long, quill-like crest feathers behind its head, said to resemble the quill pens that clerks once tucked behind their ears. (Some suggest the name comes from an Arabic term instead.) Either way, the distinctive head plumes are central to its look.

Are secretarybirds endangered?

Yes — they are assessed as Endangered. Numbers have fallen, largely because of the loss and degradation of the open grassland they depend on, along with other pressures. Protecting savanna habitat is important for their future, and current status should be checked against the IUCN Red List.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.

ReferenceBritannica — Secretary bird — Editor-reviewed encyclopedia entry
UniversityAnimal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology — Peer-edited reference accounts for animal species
Wildlife referenceIUCN Red List of Threatened Species — Authoritative source for current conservation status