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The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large bird of prey that is endemic to Africa. It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region .
- Aves
- Accipitriformes
- Animalia
- Chordata
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- They have a wingspan of 2m. This is huge! They use their wings while hunting to distract their prey, and also during mating rituals.
What are secretary birds? These raptors of sub-Saharan Africa’s savannas, grasslands, and shrub lands stand at nearly four feet tall—and standing is often how you’ll find them, because they...
The secretary bird or secretarybird is a bird of prey found widely across Africa, belonging to the same order as hawks, vultures, kites and harriers. The etymology was initially believed to have been given because of the similarity in its appearance to a secretary with pens behind the ears.
- How did the secretary bird get its name? There are a couple of takes on this. One is that the secretary bird looks like an old-fashioned secretary, owing to the quill-like feathers at the back of its head, the light grey feathers resembling a long tailcoat, and the dark grey/black feathers resembling britches.
- What is the secretary bird’s Latin name? The secretary bird’s Latin name is Sagittarius serpentarius. This translates to “archer of serpents.” The secretary bird was aptly named for it’s hunting ability and diet.
- How long does a secretary bird live? About 10-15 years in the wild and sometimes a few years longer in captivity.
- Where do secretary birds live? Secretary birds are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, usually in open areas. They can be found at elevations anywhere from sea level to almost 10,000 feet above!
Scientific Name: Sagittarius serpentarius. IUCN Red List status: Endangered. IUCN Species Distribution Map. DESCRIPTION. A large and unmistakable raptor, the monotypic Secretarybird measures 125-150 cm from bill to tail tip, has a wingspan of over 2 m, and stands 1.2 m tall on long pink legs.
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Jun 3, 2024 · 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.
