Through the golden grasses of the African savannah, a unique bird of prey stalks for its next meal. Upon finding a snake slithering along the rough terrain, it charges forward, fluttering its wings before forcefully stomping it into the ground. After a few kicks to the head, the snake is eaten as if it were fried noodles. After the bird’s striking display of skill and precision, it keeps to its stroll through the grass. 

The Secretary bird, or Sagittarius serpentarius, is known not only for its distinct hunting habits but also for its alluring appearance. Its most prominent features being its stork-like legs clad with black feathers that look like short pants, and their dark eyelashes that frame their large expressive eyes.  Though these features sound silly, they help the bird through its open land habitat. 

Living South of the Sahara desert, Secretary birds can be found lounging in areas scattered with acacia trees, scrub and short grasses. The Peregrine Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds has noted that they will occasionally find their way into airfields and pasture lands. Their day begins shortly after dawn where they’ll begin to scavenge their territory for food, often covering more than twelve miles a day. They’ll spend the whole day searching for food, taking breaks in the shade during the hottest hours of the day and returning to their roost as dusk sets in. 

But what truly sets the secretary bird apart from its fellow birds is its approach to hunting. Unlike other raptors, this bird sticks to the ground, only flying when it is dire. And both its talons and beak were made for striking its prey. Described by the San Diego Zoo, “They catch prey by chasing it down, and then they either strike it with their bill or stomp on it until the prey is dead or stunned enough for the bird to swallow, usually whole.”  As brutal as it sounds it’s effective for them.

Though often solitary in its daily patrol of the savannah, the secretary bird is a skilled and efficient predator. Each step it takes on its trek highlights its dual nature as a fierce hunter and icon of the bird world.