BirdEndangered
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
Join us at Samton Safaris for a bespoke safari experience featuring the exclusive Secretary Bird of the Masai Mara and Serengeti.
About the Secretary Bird
The secretary bird is one of Africa's most distinctive raptors — a long-legged bird of prey that hunts on foot rather than from the air. Standing up to 1.3 metres tall, it stalks through grasslands delivering devastating stomps to snakes, lizards, and other small prey.
Research has shown that a secretary bird's kick delivers a force equal to five times its own body weight in just 15 milliseconds — fast enough and powerful enough to kill a venomous snake instantly. They are commonly seen in the open plains of the Masai Mara and Serengeti.
Fun Facts
1
Their kick delivers 5 times their body weight in force
2
They can walk up to 30 km per day hunting on foot
3
Their name may come from the quill-like feathers behind their head
4
Secretary birds are the only raptor species that hunts exclusively on foot
Best Places
Where to See the Secretary Bird
These are the top destinations where you have the best chance of spotting the Secretary Bird in the wild.
More Safari Animals
WILDLIFE SAFARI
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