The Secretarybird –Sagittarius serpentarius. The typical identify comes from the feathers of the pinnacle crest which resemble quill pens. Sagittarius, from the Latin, manner “arrow or archer” and refers back to the manner an archer walked whilst stalking prey; serpentarius manner “serpent handler” from the fowl’s meant affinity for snakes. They’re endemic to Africa the place they inhabit open spaces.
An overly unique and unmistakable fowl, Secretarybirds stand roughly 4.3-4.9 toes tall, one of the crucial tallest birds of prey on the planet. Their long, narrow legs are longer than their thighs, giving them a rather stilt-like look. Their legs are, actually, nearly two times so long as different ground-dwelling birds of the similar weight. The plumage is predominantly grey with black feathers at the wings and higher legs. The pinnacle has a crest of lengthy black feathers that resembles a secretary’s quill pen, which supplies the fowl its identify. Adults have a unadorned red-orange face with faded brown eyes and a yellow cere (the fleshy a part of the beak containing the nostrils.) Their neck and head don’t seem to be particularly lengthy, so the fowl will have to slump down to achieve the bottom. In flight the Secretarybird’s neck and legs are prolonged. The Secretarybird is expounded to different primary teams of predatory birds such because the hawks and eagles, vultures, and the Osprey.
Secretarybirds are ambitious hunters, essentially preying on small mammals, bugs, and from time to time birds. Even supposing identified for consuming snakes, particularly the venomous cobra and adder, those reptiles don’t include a lot of the fowl’s vitamin. Every so often the birds will take better prey like rabbits or even younger antelopes. The birds are diurnal, that means they’re maximum energetic right through the day. They hunt through strolling throughout the grasslands, savannas, or agricultural fields, the usage of their robust legs and toes to stamp at the floor, flushing out prey hiding within the crops. The ft are so brief and stout that the fowl can not use its toes and claws to grab prey as many predatory birds do however as soon as the prey is uncovered, the fowl makes use of its lengthy legs and sharp talons to ship fatal kicks, surprising or killing the sufferer ahead of eating it. The lengthy legs permit it to use a power to an imprisoned prey merchandise of 5 occasions the fowl’s frame weight! Secretarybirds in most cases swallow their prey complete even though better animals can be held down through the toes and torn aside through the pointy invoice.
Secretarybirds are most often present in pairs right through the breeding season however now and again accumulate in small teams, particularly the place meals is ample. They’re identified for his or her spectacular courtship presentations, which contain aerial displays, hovering prime above the bottom with an undulating flight. They construct huge, flat nests made from sticks and crops on the best of a thorny tree like an acacia to offer protection to the eggs from predators; each female and male proportion the parental tasks. In 2020 the Global Union for Conservation of Nature designated the Secretarybird species as endangered as grasslands are being taken over through woody shrubs, fragmented through roads, and overgrazed through cattle.