The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large that is to . It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and of the . described the species in 1779. A member of the order , which also includes many other birds of prey such as eagles, hawks.and harriers, and it is placed in its own family.
The secretarybird is instantly recognizable as a very large bird with an eagle-like body on legs that give the bird a height of as much as 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in). The sexes are similar in appearance. Adults have a featherless red-orange face and predominantly grey plumage, with a flattened dark crest and black and thighs.
Breeding can take place at any time of year but tends to be late in the dry season. The nest is built at the top of a thorny tree, and a clutch of one to three is laid. In years with plentiful food all three young can survive to fledging. The secretarybird hunts and catches prey on the ground, often stomping on victims to kill them. Insects and small vertebrates make up its diet.
When the lanky leg of a secretary bird kicks a snake in the head, the killer blow can transfer five times the bird's own weight in a hundredth of a second
YOU ARE READING
Animals On Earth: Africa
RandomHere's the second book of the Animals On Earth Series, this time it's about African Animals which includes the likes of Elephants, crocodiles, lions, meerkats, mongooses, warthogs, caracals, cheetahs, ostritches, rhinos, tick-birds, buffalo, gazzele...
