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Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Photo by July Llanes
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

The Secretarybird or Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Sahara. Although a member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards, vultures, and harriers, it is given its own family, Sagittariidae.

Habitat:

Secretary Birds are endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa and are non-migratory, though they may follow food sources.[13] Their range extends from Senegal to Somalia and south to the Cape of Good Hope.[9] These birds are also found at a variety of elevations, from the coastal plains to the highlands. Secretary Birds prefer open grasslands and savannas rather than forests and dense shrubbery which may impede their cursorial existence.[14] While the birds roost on the local Acacia trees at night, they spend much of the day on the ground, returning to roosting sites just before dark.

Species ID Suggestions

secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Comments (2)

Lovely pic of a bird that is becoming scarcer.
auntnance -- once again, thanks for the ID! :)

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 18, 2011

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