Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
Secretary bird is a long legged bird of prey, and the only known species of the family Sagittariidae. It inhabits open plains, bush country and farmland (Williams & Arlott 1992; van Perlo 1995), and is most often encountered alone or in pairs (Williams & Arlott 1992; Zimmerman 1999).
Secretary birds have a specific home range (van Perlo 1995) of about 3 km2 but the species is known for moving long distances in search for food.
It hunts by foot (Williams & Arlott 1992; Zimmerman 1999) and feeds on rodents, large insects and various reptiles (Williams & Arlott 1992). Snakes however only make up a small portion of their diet.
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Last updated:
05/23/05