Field guide · rare
Secretary Bird
A bird of prey on stilts — eagle above, crane below, famous for stomping snakes.
Endangered
Sagittarius serpentarius
Overview
Secretary birds look like someone crossed an eagle with a crane: raptor beak and crest on top of absurdly long legs built for walking the African plains. They hunt on foot, stomping snakes and other prey with precise, powerful kicks.
Few birds are this distinctive. On Kenyan savanna they are a rare, high-drama Catch'Um card.
- Scientific nameSagittarius serpentarius
- LengthWingspan ~2 m
- Height1.2–1.5 m
- Weight2.3–4.3 kg
- LifespanAround 10–15 years in the wild
- DietSnakes
- ConservationEndangered
- RegionSavanna
Habitat
- Savanna
- Open grassland
- Shrubland
Secretary birds inhabit open grassland and savanna across sub-Saharan Africa, needing space to walk-hunt and scattered trees or bushes for nests and roosts.
Countries found
Field notes
Field scale for the Secretary Bird: length around Wingspan ~2 m; height 1.2-1.5 m; weight 2.3-4.3 kg. Typical lifespan: Around 10-15 years in the wild.
When you are scanning habitat, prioritise savanna, open grassland, and shrubland. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.
Quick ID anchor: Long grey legs, eagle-like head with an orange face and quill-like crest, and black flight feathers. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.
Diet
Snakes, lizards, insects, small mammals, and birds taken on foot with beak and stomping kicks.
Specialist snake hunters but take a wide range of ground prey.
Behaviour
Stride across plains for hours; soar on thermals between hunting grounds.
Monogamous pairs defend large territories and nest in trees.
How to identify
Long grey legs, eagle-like head with an orange face and quill-like crest, and black flight feathers.
Walks with a distinctive strut; tail has long central feathers.
Interesting facts
- 01
Secretary birds spend most of their hunting time on foot, not in the air.
- 02
They kill snakes with rapid, targeted stomps.
- 03
The crest of long quills may have inspired the 'secretary' name (quill pens).
- 04
They can stand over 1.2 metres tall.
- 05
Pairs build large stick nests in flat-topped trees or bushes.
- 06
Despite long legs, they can still fly strongly when needed.
Conservation status
Secretary birds are Endangered. Habitat loss, degradation of grasslands, and disturbance have driven declines across Africa. Protecting open savanna mosaics in East and southern Africa is critical.
Sources: IUCN Red List
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Where it lives
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Spot one in the wild, then scan it in Catch'Um to log your rare discovery.