From Opus

Sagittarius serpentarius

Photo by Glazzers

[edit] Identification

It has a body length of 4 - 5 feet and a 7-foot wingspan. Multiple feathered crest. The lower legs of Secretarybirds have heavy scales that may protect them while walking through the brush or when attacking their prey.

[edit] Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa: widespread from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Ethiopia and western Somalia and south to the South Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

The only species in the family Sagittariidae.

The species is monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Open grassland and semi-desert, Acacia woodland.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes large insects and small amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They are most famous as snake-eaters, including poisonous cobras and adders, but also eat gamebirds, plovers, chicks, mongooses, and rabbits. All but the largest prey are swallowed whole. They walk along the ground, usually in pairs, searching for prey which is killed with a quick kick of its foot.

It builds a platform nest of sticks on the top of a low tree. 2 eggs are laid and incubated for 42 - 46 days. The young fledge from 9 - 15 weeks of age.

[edit] External Links