Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

A towering predator stalking through African grasslands on its long legs, this extraordinary raptor punches and stamps snakes to death with its powerful feet.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Secretarybird is a striking, long-legged raptor with a distinctive eagle-like head and a crest of black feathers. Its body is predominantly grey, with black flight feathers and thighs. The face is bare and red-orange, contrasting with its grey beak.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles having a duller plumage and shorter crest feathers. The bird's most notable feature is its long, pink legs, which give it a unique stance among raptors.

Size

Length

112cm to 150cm

Wingspan

191cm to 215cm

Weight

2.3kg to 4.27kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Black

Secondary Colour

White Yellow Red Orange

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Secretarybird can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Secretarybird is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Secretarybird can be found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Secretarybirds inhabit open grasslands, savannahs, and lightly wooded areas across sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer areas with short grass and scattered trees or shrubs, which provide both hunting grounds and nesting sites.

Their range extends from Senegal to Somalia and south to South Africa. They are non-migratory but may make local movements in response to food availability and rainfall patterns.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Secretarybird. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons