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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 .
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.
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 ...
Secretary birds and caracaras are the only terrestrial birds of prey, hunting for their food on foot. Adults are often seen working in loose pairs, or even small family groups, stalking through grass in search of small mammals, reptiles, birds, and large insects.
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.
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.
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.
A distinctive, tall, long-legged, crane-like raptor with unique quill-like plumes on its head and bright-red facial skin. In flight, the dark edge to the hind wing, diamond-shaped tail, and long spatulate tail feathers make it unmistakable.
The secretarybird is instantly recognizable as a very large terrestrial bird with an eagle-like head and body on crane-like legs. The neck is not especially long, and can only be lowered down to the intertarsal joint, so birds must stoop to reach down to the ground.
It is variably described as common to rare (only 10 pairs or less in Waza-Logone west, Cameroon [J. Brouwer in litt. 2012]) and localised, and is sedentary in some parts of its range and nomadic in others (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001) .
