The secretary bird strides through the grass for up to 30 kilometres a day. It kills prey with powerful kicks and swallows it whole. Its crest resembles old-fashioned quill pens, which may explain the name.
Raptors
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
A long-legged raptor that hunts by stamping on snakes and rodents.
Size
Up to 1.3 m tall
Lifespan
10-15 years
Diet
Snakes, lizards, rodents and insects.
Habitat
Open grassland and savannah.
About the secretary bird
Did you know?
01
It kicks with a force of five times its own body weight.
02
A pair often builds a nest in an acacia tree.
03
It can stamp on a snake in a fraction of a second.
When to see it
Seen all year round; the best sightings depend on where you are.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
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Trips that go there
Where to meet the secretary bird
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