Overview
The Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, terrestrial bird of prey that is indigenous to the open grasslands in Sub-Saharan Africa. This distinctive bird is famous for its tall stature, elongated legs, eagle-like body, and beautiful crest of long quill-like feathers, giving the impression of a secretary with quill pens tucked behind their ear, hence the name.
The Secretarybird is a diurnal raptor often seen striding across the savannahs hunting for food. Its diet primarily consists of insects and small mammals, and it is mainly known for its ability to kill snakes, even venomous ones. This unique bird is the sole member of its family Sagittariidae, distinct from other birds of prey.
As a monogamous bird, the Secretarybird forms life-long mating pairs and typically nests in acacia trees, laying one to three eggs per season. The parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks once they hatched. Despite its terrestrial lifestyle, this bird is an excellent flyer and uses this ability for mating displays, escape from danger, and reaching its nest.
Taxonomy
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Physical Description:
The Secretarybird stands out among birds of prey due to its long, crane-like legs adapted for its terrestrial lifestyle. These birds are mainly gray and white, with black flight feathers and a bare orange-to-red face. A distinguishing characteristic is the crest of long, black quill-like feathers at the back of their heads.
Their broad and rounded wings make them powerful fliers despite their large size. They also have a hooked raptor’s beak for tearing meat, and their eyes are framed with lush eyelashes, a feature rare among birds.
Lifespan: Wild: ~15 Years || Captivity: ~20 Years
Weight: Male & Female: 7.3–12.2 lbs (3.3–5.5 kg)
Length: Male & Female: 39–55 in (100–140 cm)
Height: Male & Female: 2.6–4.1 ft (0.8–1.3 m)
Wingspan: Male & Female: 6.6–7.4 ft (2–2.3 m)
Top Speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
Characteristic:
Native Habitat:
Secretarybirds are endemic to the African continent, favoring open grasslands, savannas, and shrublands where they can easily spot and pursue their prey. They avoid dense forests and deserts but are occasionally found in agricultural fields and sparse woodland.
They are pretty terrestrial and prefer to move around on foot, with the ability to cover large distances daily in search of food. However, they nest and roost in trees, often acacias, building large nests out of sticks and vegetation where they can observe their surroundings.
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Diet & Feeding Habits:
The Secretarybird is predominantly a carnivore, known for its distinct preference for snakes, hence the species name “Serpentarius.” They have a unique hunting method, using their solid and long legs to stomp and kick their prey to death. This technique is incredibly efficient against venomous snakes, keeping the bird at a safe distance.
In addition to snakes, the diet of the Secretarybird includes a variety of small mammals like mice and hares, bird eggs, young birds, lizards, amphibians, and giant insects. Secretarybirds often hunt alone or in pairs and cover large distances on foot each day for food. Their long legs allow them to quickly flush out prey from the tall African grasslands.
Mating Behavior:
Mating Description:
Secretarybirds are monogamous and form lifelong pairs. During courtship, the pair performs a spectacular aerial display, soaring high in the sky, with lots of circling, wing-flapping, and calling. This display is often concluded with a mutual tumble from the sky.
Both partners partake in nest construction, done on top of acacia trees or other tall trees. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs, which both parents incubate for about 45 days. After hatching, both parents feed the chicks by regurgitating food. The chicks fledge after around 70 to 85 days but continue to rely on their parents for food for several months.
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Social Structure Description:
Secretarybirds are known for their solitary nature, often observed alone or accompanied solely by their monogamous partner. These birds commit to a partner for life, creating a strong bond that encompasses hunting, nesting, and parenting responsibilities. This shared approach to life’s challenges ensures their offspring’s survival and their species’ continuation. Their monogamous relationships highlight a unique aspect of their behavior, contrasting with many other bird species’ more solitary or flock-oriented lifestyles.
Despite their non-territorial nature, secretarybirds establish extensive home ranges that a mated pair patrols and hunts within. These ranges are necessary due to their foraging habits, which require covering vast areas on foot to find food, such as snakes, insects, and small mammals. The size of these home ranges can vary greatly, depending on the food availability within their habitat. This adaptation allows them to thrive in sub-Saharan Africa’s open grasslands and savannas, demonstrating their specialized approach to survival in a diverse ecosystem.
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Population Trend:
The Secretarybird is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to a noticeable decrease in population over the last few decades. Habitat loss, resulting from agricultural expansion, tree removal, and intensifying wildfires, is the primary threat to their population.
While widely distributed, the species is generally sparse and seldom found in high densities. Regional populations vary widely, with South Africa home to the densest population, while the species is considered rare or possibly extinct in parts of West Africa.
Population Threats:
The main threat to Secretarybirds is habitat loss and degradation, mainly from agricultural expansion, changes in fire regimes, and tree removal. These threats reduce the availability of their preferred prey and nesting sites.
In addition to habitat loss, Secretarybirds are also vulnerable to direct persecution, as they are sometimes hunted or poisoned due to misguided beliefs that they prey on domestic fowl. Additionally, they are susceptible to collisions with power lines, which pose a significant threat, especially to younger birds.
Conservation Efforts:
Efforts to conserve the Secretarybird include habitat protection and management, explicitly preserving nesting trees and maintaining a mosaic of habitats to ensure prey availability. Research is ongoing to better understand their ecology and the impacts of specific threats.
BirdLife International and its partners are working on conservation measures, including tracking movements to determine important habitats, engaging with landowners to secure them, and raising public awareness about the species. The Secretarybird has been legally protected in South Africa since 1974.
Additional Resources:
Fun Facts
- The Secretarybird’s name is thought to come from the 19th-century French word ‘secrétaire,’ referring to the bird’s quill-like crest.
- They are one of the tallest birds of prey, standing as tall as an average human child.
- Despite their long legs, they are strong fliers and use thermal air currents to soar high in the sky.
- They use their powerful legs to stomp their prey to death, including venomous snakes.
- Secretarybirds have a distinct ‘marching’ gait which helps them flush out hidden prey.
- They are the only member of their family Sagittariidae.
- The Secretarybird’s eyelashes are actually modified feathers.
- Their large nests, which are often reused and can become quite massive, are used as platforms by other birds to build their own nests.
- They communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations, including whistles, croaks, and mews.
- Secretarybirds have been featured on South African coins and stamps due to their iconic status in the region.
