secretary bird

The secretary bird Sagittarius serpentarius feeds mainly on snakes and lizards, and inhabits the dry uplands regions of Africa. This individual was photographed in Kenya.

Ground-hunting, long-legged, mainly grey-plumaged bird of prey Sagittarius serpentarius. It is about 1.2 m/4 ft tall, with an erectile head crest tipped with black. It is protected in southern Africa because it eats poisonous snakes.

It gets its name from the fact that its head crest supposedly looks like a pen behind a clerk's ear. It is the only member of the family Sagittariidae, in the same order (Falconiformes) as vultures, eagles, and hawks.