Secretarybird facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Secretarybird
In Serengeti National Park
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Sagittariidae
Genus:	Sagittarius
Binomial name
Sagittarius serpentarius

The secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a very large bird of prey. It spends most of its time on the ground. You can usually find these birds in African savannas and open grasslands. They are known for their long legs and unique hunting style.

Amazing Hunters

Unlike most birds of prey, the secretarybird hunts its food on foot. It does not usually swoop down from the sky. These birds walk through the tall grass with long steps. They look for small animals to eat.

What Secretarybirds Eat

Secretarybirds eat many different things. Their diet includes insects, small mammals like mice, hares, and mongoose. They also hunt crabs, lizards, and even dangerous snakes. Sometimes, they eat tortoises, young birds, or bird eggs. They might also eat animals that died in grass or bushfires.

How They Hunt Snakes

Secretarybirds are famous for hunting snakes. They can even hunt venomous cobras and other reptiles. Their claws are not very strong or sharp. So, to catch their prey, they stomp on it with their powerful legs. This stomping action helps them to break the back of the animal, making the kill.

Size of the Secretarybird

The secretarybird is a very tall bird. When it stands up straight, it can be almost 4.5 feet (1.3 meters) tall. This makes it one of the tallest birds of prey in the world.

Family Tree

Scientists have studied the secretarybird's DNA. They found that it is quite different from other birds of prey. Because of these special differences, the secretarybird is placed in its very own bird family. This family is called Sagittariidae.

Images for kids

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  The secretarybird has distinct black feathers protruding from behind its head.

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  A pair atop a tree

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  Captive secretarybird with two eggs in its nest

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  Illustration of chick, from Faune de la Sénégambie (1883), by Alphonse Trémeau de Rochebrune

See also

In Spanish: Secretario para niños