We see birds every day. We see blue jays, hummingbirds, and pigeons outside our windows, on the street, and flying in the air. It is not rare for us to see a bird. However, most of us probably have not seen the Secretary Bird, not even once. Which is a shame because the Secretary Birds are very cool.

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Secretary Birds look like Eagles and Cranes morphed together. The head looks much like an eagle with a hooked bill and the long legs make it look crane-like. Usually it has grey wings, black flight feathers, and black legs. If you cannot pick them out by their long legs certainly the orange face with make them stand out. Secretary Birds can be as tall as 54 inches and weigh at least 5 pounds.

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Secretary Birds need habitats that are open savannas or grasslands. Which is why these birds can be found throughout Africa, expect for the extreme deserts and the forest regions. Areas that are developed by humans also attract the Secretary Birds. One of the reasons why they like the open savannas is because they prefer to walk and they can walk up to 19 miles a day. It makes sense why they have such long legs! They have the longest legs of the birds of prey.

 

Although these birds are large, they are an almost endangered species. They are vulnerable, yet scientist do not know why their population is dropping.

The diet of a Secretary Bird consists of insects, mammals such as mice and hares, scorpions, snakes, and other small animals. They usually hunt alone or with a mate. They will wait in the grass until they see movement. Once they see movement, they will go after it. If it is a small prey, they will scoop it up with their beaks. If it is a larger prey, they will stamp on it with their feet. It is known that a Secretary Bird will often stun a snake by stepping right behind the head. They will then take the snake and fly really high and drop the snake to kill it. Secretary Birds have no natural predators as adults, but other birds such as crows, ravens, eagle-owls will hunt them when they are young.

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We should really learn more about the Secretary Bird because of how interesting it is. Even their name is interesting. The reason they are called the Secretary Bird is because the feathers the stick out from its head look like old European quill pens that often were tucked behind the ear. Although I may not see the Secretary Bird outside my window, I definitely want to make a trip to Africa to see one!

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Author: Michaella S

Published: 02/2013

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Bibliography

International, B. (2016). Sagittarius serpentarius . Retrieved from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm): http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/22696221/0

“Just Fun Facts.” Fun and Interesting Site, 1 Jan. 1969, justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-secretary-birds/.

“Secretarybird | Sagittarius Serpentarius.” EDGE of Existence, www.edgeofexistence.org/species/secretarybird/.

Sherman, Patrick. “Sagittarius Serpentarius (Secretary Bird).” ADW: Rhinoceros: CLASSIFICATION, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sagittarius_serpentarius/.

 

“Just Fun Facts.” Fun and Interesting Site, 1 Jan. 1969, justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-secretary-birds/.