Random Fascinating Facts About Secretary Bird, A Snake-Killing Badass (12 items)

• 

  (#1) These Birds Terrorize Their Prey

  Like the prehistoric terror birds, secretary birds can be extremely intimidating when they hunt. If getting bashed in the face with their ferocious feet wasn't awful enough, secretary birds are known to extend their wings and raise the quill-like feathers on their head while attacking. Not only does this make them look much bigger and scarier, it’s also a life-saving defensive technique.

  These birds often target snakes, some of which can be highly venomous, and therefore need to avoid being bitten. With their wings spread, deadly snakes will often strike at the hollow feathers. This is harmless for the bird and acts as a distraction to the snake, who’s venomous bite could be fatal if hits the birds soft, fleshy body.
• 

  (#2) They Love Kicking Snakes To Death

  Secretary birds are perhaps most well known for their exceptionally long legs, which they use to murder snakes and anything else small enough to swallow whole. They hunt using their feet, kicking their prey with tremendous force until it is stunned enough to swallow. This crazy animal attack is particularly good at dealing with venomous snakes, where a single strike to the bird’s body could be fatal. Scientists have studied the power behind a secretary bird’s kick, and what they found out was amazing. They kick in rapid succession, and each kick is so fast it only makes contact with their prey for 15 milliseconds, which is 10 times as fast as the blink of a human eye.
• 

  (#3) Secretary Birds Can Grow To Over Four Feet Tall

  One of the tallest living raptors, the secretary bird can be found strutting through the savannah on two elongated legs. Estimates very, but some put secretary birds at 4.9 feet tall, although most birds measure closer to four feet. This gives the the distinctive title of having the longest legs of any living bird of prey. On top of their monstrous gams, secretary birds sport an equally impressive seven foot wingspan. 
• 

  (#4) They Are Being Studied To Possibly Assist In Robotic Prosthetics

  The long, slender legs of the secretary bird may make it an unquestionable killing machine, but their unique anatomy may assist in the development of better human prosthetics. The remarkable force generated by these birds has led scientists to believe the mechanics behind them could be used in sporting prosthetics. The quick speed and heavy force could be applied to prosthetics designed to hit and throw baseballs, a novel appliance for such a deadly adaptation. 
• 

  (#5) Their Latin Name - The Archer Of Snakes - Is Super Cool

  While the common name "secretary bird" may not be the most terrifying in the animal kingdom, their scientific names are much more badass. They have been officially classified with the Latin name Sagittarius serpentarius, which literally translate to "the archer of snakes". They are named for their ability to annihilate even the most venomous snakes with ease, stomping them to death with their long legs before swallowing them whole like a dinosaur.
• 

  (#6) Unlike Most Raptors, They Hunt On The Ground

  While most birds of prey are known for swooping down from the skies and ensnaring prey with razor sharp talons, secretary birds hunt in a manner reminiscent of their dinosaur ancestors. They lumber through grasslands, constantly scanning the ground for signs of prey. When they find something, they quickly stomp or peck it to death before swallowing the poor creature whole.

  Researchers are using the secretary bird's prehistoric hunting techniques to better learn about extinct predators like the terror bird, a post-Cretaceous carnivorous bird that was as deadly as it was giant. Their similar body shape has led scientists to believe secretary birds and terror birds hunted in similar ways. 
• 

  (#7) The Might Be Named After Their Physical Similarities To Male Secretaries

  The stories behind the secretary bird’s peculiar name may be myth, but they are too interesting to ignore. It all started when Europeans first discovered these birds in the 1800s. It is believed the name came from one of two features; either they were named after the quill-like feathers on the back of their heads that resemble a pen behind the ear, or their distinctive grey coats and black leg-feathers resemble the jacket and tie common of male secretaries at the time of their discovery.
• 

  (#8) Secretary Birds Are Devoted Parents

  Unlike many species of raptor, the secretary bird is a very successful parent. They tend to be monogamous, partnering up to build their nests and raise their young. They are loyal to each other and their nest, and will use the same nest for several years. A secretary bird nest can be up to eight feet across and is usually made up of twigs, leaves, animal fur, and dung. While that may sound gross, it’s the perfect home for raising their chicks. Females usually lay three eggs and take the brunt of the responsibility when it comes to incubation. 

  As a testament to their good parenting, secretary birds are able to successfully raise multiple chicks at once, a rarity for birds of prey. The parents take turns watching the chicks and hunting for food, and at 12 weeks are ready to leave the nest. The parents teach their chicks to fly and hunt for prey, and then the baby birds wander off onto the savannah to fend for themselves.
• 

  (#9) Mating Pairs Share Their Territory For Life

  Being monogamous, secretary birds will live and hunt with their partners in a shared territory that can reach up to 19 square miles. Secretary birds will live and hunt with their partners in a shared territory that can reach up to 19 square miles. They can travel some 20 miles every day while hunting, but keep it all in their range. Nest are built in shared territory and can take up to six months to complete, and the pair will use the same nest for years if the conditions are right. Their strong bonds help them survive and raise their young to the best of their ability. 
• 

  (#10) They Are One Of The Only Terrestrial Birds Of Prey

  The secretary bird is unique amongst raptors, as it is only one of two species of predatory bird to do it's hunting from the ground. Just one other bird, the caracaras, is known to also hunt on their feet. They are the sole living representative of the family Sagittariidae, making them somewhat of a loner in the bird world. Their unique hunting style as well as their incredibly long legs gives secretary birds a dinosaur-like appearance, as they lumber around Africa and eat anything they step on.
• 

  (#11) Males Do Aerial Dances For Females

  Although they spend most of their time on the ground, that doesn't mean secretary birds can’t fly. They fly up into the trees at night to sleep, and they are known for the aerial mating displays. When two potential mates meet, they take the skies and engage in an elaborate ritual where they will soar to great heights. The males will perform an impressive dive-bomb toward the female, and she will often turn and show her claws as a sign of approval. 
• 

  (#12) Sub-Saharan Africa Is The Only Place To Find Them

  These beautiful birds can only be found in the savannahs and grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa, where they hunt for snakes and small mammals. They are known to congregate in areas that have experienced massive wildfires, where they can find small mammals that have been driven out from beneath the ground by the flames. They can be seen at wildlife refuges around the continent, including Kruger National Park. Some people in South Africa have even been known to keep secretary birds as pets that help exterminate small pests from their crops.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking