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.

More photos of the secretarybird