Secretarybird / Sekretär (Sagittarius serpentarius)

Secretarybird 2. 2016-09-13 14:10:50 Namibia

Observations

First documented observation: 2016-09-13 in Namibia. Most recent observation: 2016-09-27 in Botswana.

Description

Classification: Genus Sagittarius (Sagittarius); Family Sagittariidae (Sagittariidae)
General: The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779. Although a member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal birds of prey such as kites, hawks, vultures, and harriers, it is placed in its own family, Sagittariidae. [more]