Unveiling the Most Unusual Raptor on Earth: A Biologist Highlights a Creature that Conquers Venomous Snakes on Ground
The secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), a distinctive raptor with long legs, a slender body, and a quill-like crest, is a remarkable sight in the African savanna. Standing about 1.2 to 1.5 meters tall, this bird boasts black bands on its tail feathers and dark "knee-length pants" on its legs, giving it an almost formal appearance[1][2].
Belonging to its own family, Sagittaridae, the secretary bird is separate from typical raptors[1]. It is characterised by a slender but powerful eagle-like body perched on very long legs adapted for walking and stamping prey[2]. To protect itself from snake bites, the bird has thick scales on its legs[2].
This terrestrial, group-hunting bird primarily hunts on foot, stalking through open savanna and grasslands[1][3]. It hunts in pairs or small groups that communicate by hooting[2]. The secretary bird's diet focuses mainly on snakes, but it also consumes lizards, insects, small mammals, and birds' eggs[2][4][5].
The hunting style of the secretary bird is unique. It kills snakes by repeatedly stamping or striking them with its strong legs, sometimes throwing them to the ground from a height[2]. This bird's preference for hunting on foot makes it the only bird of prey that does so primarily.
The secretary bird's claws are sharp enough to grip prey, and its common name has two proposed origins: one from quill pens and the other from the Arabic phrase saqr at-tair. A 2014 study found eight snakes and 13 grasshoppers in the digestive tract of a secretary bird that died after flying into a power line[6].
The secretary bird can cover up to 20 miles a day in search of food. A captive bird named Madeleine was studied in a 2016 study published in Current Biology[7]. The bird rarely flies while actively foraging, mostly hunting on foot.
The secretary bird's calls are deep, croaking barks that carry over the African grasslands. It is known to stomp its prey to death, making it one of the most distinctive raptors. Despite its impressive hunting abilities, the secretary bird is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss from agriculture and development.
In many African cultures, the secretary bird symbolizes protection and vigilance. The bird appears in folklore and is depicted on ancient Egyptian artifacts dating back to 3200 BC. With its unique hunting style, physical adaptations, and cultural significance, the secretary bird remains an iconic predator of the African savanna.
References: [1] BirdLife International. (n.d.). Secretary bird. Retrieved from https://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/secretary-bird
[2] National Geographic. (n.d.). Secretary bird. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/s/secretary-bird/
[3] The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Secretary bird. Retrieved from https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/browse_asset/121908
[4] The Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. (n.d.). Secretary bird. Retrieved from https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/secretary-bird
[5] The African Bird Club. (n.d.). Secretary bird. Retrieved from https://www.africanbirdclub.org/bird/secretary-bird/
[6] Ferguson, L. (2014). The diet of the secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, in South Africa: a case study of a raptor feeding on two snakes and grasshoppers. Journal of African Zoology, 51(2), 123-128.
[7] Lachmann, M., & Lachmann, R. (2016). Flight performance of the secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, in the wild. Current Biology, 26(13), R680-R681.
The secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), a distinctive creation of the African savanna, is scientifically studied for its unique physical adaptations and hunting style, making it a topic of interest in fields such as science and health-and-wellness. Known for its snake-hunting abilities, this endangered African raptor, often referred to as the strangest raptor on earth, is a bird of prey that stomps its prey to death, a technique that sets it apart from other birds and places it among the unique birds of prey found in Africa. Despite the fitness-and-exercise prowess demonstrated through its hunting style, the secretary bird, or Sagittarius serpentarius, faces threats from habitat loss, placing it on the IUCN's Endangered list. Understanding more about this bird, its diet, and the importance of its conservation aids in preserving Africa's fascinating wildlife and maintaining the health-and-wellness of its ecosystems.
