Secretary Bird - Sagittariidae serpentarius

The secretary bird is a large, long-legged grey and black bird with long, loose black feathers projecting behind the head. Adults have orange face, while immature have yellow face.

Secretary birds are usually silent, but sometimes make a frog-like croak.

Behaviour and habitat: They are seen usually in pairs walking with measured strides in grassland, savanna or Kalahari scrub. Sometimes they run a short distance with spread wings and may also soar to a great height. It roosts on the top of thorn trees. It is probably best known for its habits of killing snakes, but it relies to a far greater extent on rodents and insects. The Secretary bird will eat almost any other bird, mammal or reptile, which it can overpower and kill. The nest is a large platform of sticks placed in the top of a tree, which is usually stamped down so that the nest itself is just below the highest branches and therefore not readily visible from the side. At the approach of an intruder the sitting bird will lie flat on the nest and may therefore be overlooked. Secretary bird is widely but sparsely distributed throughout Namibia.

Lodges and Camps in Namibia: Beach Lodge - Casa Piccolo - Mahangu Safari Lodge - Mazambala - Oase Guest House - Phantom Farmhouse - The Desert Homestead

Botswana Destinations: Chobe National Park

Zimbabwe Destinations: Victoria Falls

Mammals of Namibia: African Wild Dog - African Elephant - Cheetah - Giraffe - Hartebeest - Hippo - Leopard - Lion - Red Lechwe - Roan Antelope - Sitatunga -Spotted Hyena - Springbok - Wildebeest - Zebra

Birds of Namibia: Blue Waxbill - Cormorants - Crowned Plover - Darter - Egyptian Goose - Fish Eagle - Flamingos - Grey Lourie - Kingfisher - Kori Bustard - Ostrich - Saddlebilled Stork - Secretary Bird