Bird of prey: secretary bird

THE secretary bird is an uncommon vulnerable species found in the savanna and open grassland around South Africa. They are very conspicuous, so not easily overlooked.

They are usually single or in pairs, striding slowly across the terrain with measured tread of about 120 paces per minute covering 2.5 to 3km/h.

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They catch all their prey on the ground with their bill, sometimes stamping on it with their feet, as when killing a rodent or snake.

Secretary birds seldom fly, but when they do, they run to take off and soar well like vultures to great heights, often performing courtship in mid-air and giving deep croaks. When landing they run several paces with open wings.

At night they roost in pairs at the top of a bush or tree. They are normally silent, but have a croaking, “korr – orr – orr” call and mewing call at the roost.

Food preferences are varied from insects, amphibians, lizards, rodents, young hares to young birds and eggs. Snakes are regularly killed, but seldom eaten.

Breeding takes place in all months of the year. The nest is a flat platform of sticks and the central depression is grass and dung. It is built on top of a dense thorny bush or tree from two to nine metres above the ground.

Usually two white or pale bluish green eggs are laid. Incubation is 42 to 46 days and the nestling period can be from 65 to 106 days.

The isiZulu name is iNtingunono and in Afrikaans die sekretarisvoël.  

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