secretary bird The Secretary Bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it
The Secretary Bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Sahara. Although a member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards, vultures, and harriers, it is so distinctive that it was given its own family, Sagittariidae. It enjoys a certain fame in Africa, specifically Sudan and South Africa, serving as a prominent emblem on both nations' coats of arms. Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Sagittariidae Genus: Sagittarius Species: S. serpentarius Binomial name Sagittarius serpentarius Its common name is popularly thought to derive from the crest of long quill-like feathers, lending the bird the appearance of a secretary with quill pens tucked behind his or her ear, as was once the practice. A more recent hypothesis is that "secretary" is borrowed from a French corruption of the Arabic saqr-et-tair or "hunter-bird." The generic name "Sagittarius" is Latin for "archer," perhaps likening the Secretary Bird's "quills" to a quiver of arrows. Its specific epithet - "serpentarius" - recalls the bird's skill as a hunter of reptiles. The Secretary Bird is instantly recognizable as having an eagle-like body on crane-like legs which increases the bird’s height to around m (4 ft) tall. This 140 cm ( ft) long bird has an eagle-like head with a hooked bill, but has rounded wings. Body weight averages at about kg ( lbs) and the wingspan is over 2 m ( ft). From a distance or in flight it resembles a crane more than a bird of prey. The tail has two elongated central feathers that extend beyond the feet during flight, as well as long flat plumage creating a posterior crest. Secretary Bird flight feathers and thighs are black, while most of the coverts are grey with some being white.
Size: 5160px × 3676px
Photo credit: © 19th era / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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