Secretary Bird: Interesting Facts About Africa’s Killer Queen : One of the enchanted nations of the African continent, Tanzania is full of surprises. The nation is not simply a safari and wildlife enthusiast’s paradise; it is also Secretary Bird’s fantasy world. A Tanzania safari might be a great vacation for you if you love birds. Around 1114 different bird species may be found in the nation. You will experience several surprises throughout your visit to Tanzania Destinations, and we are highlighting one classic surprise in this section today. The Secretary Bird, a hunting bird with distinctive African sky feathers, is introduced. Let’s discover some fascinating facts about Secretary Bird.
THE UNIQUE NAME OF THE SECRETARY BIRD
One of the recognizable species you may encounter in Tanzania’s savannahs is the secretary bird. The bird’s name is just as intriguing as its appearance. There are two intriguing facts about the name of this bird, whose origin is hotly contested. One explanation contends that the term was given because of the creature’s resemblance to official secretaries from the 1800s. They dress in dark knee-length leggings, a goose-quill pen behind the ear, and grey tailcoats. The secretary bird received its name because the feathers on the back of its head mimic the quill pen behind the ear.
According to a different version, the name secretary was derived from the Arabic phrase “saqr-et-tair,” which originally meant hunter bird but is now pronounced secretary. Whatever the cause, the bird is the most recognizable species in Tanzania’s national park.
THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF SECRETARY BIRD
The long-legged secretary bird acquired its name because of how much its body structure mimics the dress worn by secretaries in offices. Here are a few facts about them:
- These birds reach a height of 4.1 to 4.9 feet.
- The wings of the birds reach up to 6.9 feet.
- The secretary bird can weigh up to 9.4 pounds.
- Secretary birds have thick scales on their legs to protect them from snake bites.
- This bird has an eagle-like head with a hooked bill.
- From a distance, the bird looks like a crane.
- The toes of the bird are thick and have curved talons on the ends.
- They have thick, visible feathers around their eyes that look like eyelashes.
- The feathers on the back of their heads and thighs are black.
- They live up to 10 to 15 years in the jungle and 19 years in captivity.
THEY ARE BORN TO HUNT.
They hunt on the ground, as opposed to other hunting birds, which hunt from the air. It’s interesting that these birds hunt with their legs. Their legs are made in such a way that they can be used as powerful hunting weapons.
As soon as the sun rises, hummingbirds take to the air to begin their hunt. Their kick force, which is 195 N and five times that of their body weight, is sufficient to kill their victim. The bird typically employs the stomping technique when pursuing large reptiles or snakes.
With such a powerful kick, it can finish off its target in about 10–15 minutes of combat. Their exceptionally long legs, which are almost twice as long as those of ordinary ground birds, aid in their distinctive stomping hunting technique, which can crush a snake’s skull in less than 15 milliseconds—faster than you can blink. The secretary bird, sometimes known as the “devil’s horse,” is a swift runner. They can run quite quickly and cover 18 kilometers per day when hunting, which helps them track their prey.
Once they get their prey, they frequently tread on them or even hit them with their bill. When the prey is dead, the bird completely shallows it. They used to expand their wings and raise the feather crest on the back of their heads when attacking their prey.
THEIR MATING SEASON
During the secretary bird’s mating season, pairs can be observed on top of Acacia trees in the Tanzanian savannah, gently stroking one another. However, no one has ever witnessed a secretary bird mating.
Between March and June, secretary birds often mate and lay their eggs. During mating season, males typically make an effort to entice females. Males In order to entice the female, secretary birds frequently make croaking calls while showcasing their beauty. Additionally, they put on aerial performances and dance around while flapping their wings to entice females for mating.
The female secretary bird can lay one to three eggs at once, and she does it every two to three days. The eggs were solely hatched by the females, and they hatched in accordance with the day they were laid.
THEIR FAMILY LIFE
These birds are excellent parents and very devoted to their families. Above the tallest Acacia tree, one can see the secretary bird’s nest. The male and female each contribute to the construction of a sizable nest that can reach a height of 8 feet or higher. The majority of the materials used to construct the nest include twigs, sticks, animal hair and feces, leaves, and grasses. The female’s job is to lay the material for the nest properly once the male has collected it.
Secretary bird species raise multiple young at once, in contrast to other bird species. Male or female, both stay inside the nest near their young throughout the first few weeks. The parents of secretary birds shred meat into bite-sized pieces for their young until they are 40 days old. The infants learn to eat small mammal and reptile pieces that their parents have left in the nest after 40 days of birth.
FAMILY LIFE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SECRETARY BIRD:
- The female lays 1–3 eggs that take 42–46 days to hatch.
- After hatching, the birds weigh between 56 and 83 grams.
- The secretary bird started looking like one after 10 days, and after 40 days, it looks like a complete secretary bird.
- The cheeks learn how to fly, kick, and hunt from their parents.
- Eggs differ in size from 68 to 92 mm in length and 52 to 61 mm in width.
WHERE TO SEE THEM?
In many African nations, secretary birds are both widely common and protected. The Africa Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources established the bird’s protection in 1968. There is a good probability of finding the bird in Tanzania’s national parks because it is rather frequent.
Other Secretary Bird Quick Facts
- The secretary birds are territorial and occupy areas of around 40–50 square kilometers.
- Although the secretary bird is a good flyer, it spends most of its time on the ground.
- Just like a fly, it takes a long run-up to take off.
- The secretary birds are silent nearly all of the time; the only sound they make is a croaking sound when displaying for a mate.
- They roost in tall trees at night to sleep.
- Secretary birds have thick scales on their legs to protect them from snake bites.
- The taxonomic name of the bird is Sagittarius serpentarius, which means the archer of snakes.
- In flight, their long legs trail behind them in the air.
- These birds are endemic to Africa.
- Secretary birds can travel up to 20 miles a day to hunt.
Conclusion: one can see some secretary birds in zoos in different nations. Secretary birds are one of the indigenous species of the African continent. However, if you want to view these birds in their natural habitat and experience the actual action, head to Tanzania Destinations.
