Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentarius
The Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a uncommon secretarybird found in 25 countries, weighing about 4.0 kg. The secretarybird or secretary bird is a large bird of prey that is endemic to Africa.
About the Secretarybird
The secretarybird or secretary bird 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. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779. A member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, and harriers, it is placed in its own family, the Sagittariidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The secretarybird is instantly recognisable as a very large terrestrial bird with an eagle-like head and body on crane-like legs. It stands about 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) tall. It has a length of between 1.1 and 1.5 m (3 ft 7 in and 4 ft 11 in) and a wingspan between 1.9 and 2.1 m (6 ft 3 in and 6 ft 11 in). Its weight ranges from 3.74 to 4.27 kg (8.2 to 9.4 lb), with a mean of 4.05 kg (8.9 lb). The tarsus averages 31 cm (12 in) and the tail is 57–85 cm (22–33 in); both factor into making it both taller and longer than any other species of raptor.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Congo - Kinshasa, Nigeria, Somalia, Niger.
When to see it
The Secretarybird can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Secretarybird?
- The secretarybird is instantly recognisable as a very large terrestrial bird with an eagle-like head and body on crane-like legs. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Secretarybird?
- The Secretarybird is a huge sized bird weighing about 4.0 kg.
- Where can you see a Secretarybird?
- The Secretarybird occurs in 25 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana.
- Is the Secretarybird endangered?
- The Secretarybird is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Secretarybird for real
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