The Secretary Bird, scientifically known as Sagittarius serpentarius, inhabits the savannas and grasslands of the Southern Sahara. In Western cultures, it is commonly referred to as the “Secretary Bird.” This name stems from their remarkable ability to subdue and consume any snake, regardless of the snake’s toxicity. In fact, the Secretary Bird can also fall victim to venomous snakes if bitten.
The sight of a Secretary Bird capturing a snake is truly fascinating: It catches the snake with its strong talons and repeatedly strikes its head until it is dead, while simultaneously using its large, feathered wings to protect itself from bites. Sometimes, it grabs the snake and tosses it into the air multiple times to incapacitate it. The bird is meticulous in inspecting the snake before swallowing it. In South Africa, Secretary Birds are often kept to control snake and rodent populations.
The Secretary Bird typically employs a stamping method to kill its prey. Most ground-dwelling creatures, such as insects, lizards, snakes, and small mammals, can become its targets. They are capable of chasing their prey down, and in addition to using their beaks to search, Secretary Birds also stomp through bushes to scare prey into fleeing.
When pursued, Secretary Birds usually move quickly away from danger, sometimes spreading their wings while running. However, if the situation becomes dire, they can take to the sky. They utilize rising hot air currents from the ground to soar high and far. Although they are skilled flyers, it is rare to see them in flight.
This bird is primarily active during the day. With long legs and a long stride, they can walk up to 30 kilometers each day. At night, they perch on tree branches. Their bodies measure over 1 meter in length and weigh around 4 kilograms. Although they are a type of raptor, they differ from other birds of prey in having long legs, long wings, and a long tail.
Secretary Birds are known for their monogamous nature, forming lifelong pairs. Interestingly, male and female birds do not share the same nest site but typically remain within close proximity of each other.
They also show a strong preference for staying in a specific area. During the breeding season, pairs of Secretary Birds become aggressive, driving away any intruders that enter their territory.
Their nests, constructed from branches, can reach a diameter of up to 2.4 meters, though they usually contain only 2-3 eggs. They prefer nesting in thorny trees, making their nests difficult to detect and access from below. These birds are quite affectionate: the female incubates the eggs for 44-48 days, during which the male provides food for her. The eggs are white and take about 50 days to hatch. The chicks can take flight roughly 8-10 weeks after hatching.
Secretary Birds are quite intelligent: they often gather in areas recently affected by wildfires, where many injured prey may be found with little to no shelter.
The Secretary Bird is a relatively silent species, producing only a few rare calls during courtship.