Secretarybird
Sign in to saveThe secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large bird of prey that is endemic to Africa. It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779. A member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, and harriers, it is placed in its own family, the Sagittariidae.
AI overview
The secretarybird is a large African bird of prey that spends most of its time walking on the ground in grasslands and savannas rather than flying. It belongs to its own unique family within the group of daytime hunting birds, making it a distinctive member of Africa's wildlife.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Endangeredvia IUCN
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Behaviour and ecology
- Breeding
- Food and feeding
- Relationship with humans
- Cultural significance
- Threats and conservation
- In captivity
- Notes
- References
- External links
The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large bird of prey that is endemic to Africa. It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779. A member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, and harriers, it is placed in its own family, the Sagittariidae.
The secretarybird is instantly recognizable as a very large bird with an eagle-like body on crane-like legs that give the bird a height of as much as . The sexes are similar in appearance. Adults have a featherless, red-orange face and predominantly grey plumage, with a flattened dark crest and black flight feathers and thighs.