We Love Animals
Animals Nature Wildlife

A Long-Legged Bird With A Serious Kick And Eye Lashes Luxurious Enough To Make Many Woman Green With Envy!

A LONG-LEGGED BIRD WITH A SERIOUS KICK AND EYE LASHES LUXURIOUS ENOUGH TO MAKE MANY WOMAN GREEN WITH ENVY!

SOME BIRDS HAVE PRETTY INTERESTING NAMES.

The White-browed tit-warbler is one that springs to mind right off the bat. Though it wasn’t actually named after a part of the human anatomy, the name sounds less than inappropriate to modern ears. So when I say there is a long-legged bird that sounds like it is named after office workers, with eyelashes that would make many models envious, what springs to mind?

MEET THE SECRETARY BIRD

Photo Courtesy of Instagram/couturenotebook

The Secretary bird is a distinctive bird, to say the least, combining a tall, elegant, long-legs with an eagle-like body. On its head are quill-like plumes, that look like an Indian headdress, red facial skin, and plumage on the upperparts, and lesser median wing coverts which is blue-gray. The underwing coverts are a lighter gray to gray-white.

Photo Courtesy of Greg Goebel / CC BY-SA 2.0

Standing at up to 4 ft 3 in both males and females look very similar. Though males tend to have longer tail feathers, a shorter head, and more head plumes.

Photo Courtesy of Jinterwas / CC BY-SA 2.0

The plumage of the crown, upperparts, and lesser and median wing-coverts is blue-grey, and the underparts and underwing coverts are lighter greys to grey-white.

Photo Courtesy of Herbie Pearthree / CC BY-SA 2.0

Native to sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Somalia and south to South Africa, the Secretary bird is non-migratory, though it may follow rainfall to keep up with the abundance of prey.

Preferring open rangeland and Savana, where it strides around on its long legs looking for reptiles, mammals, and insects which it bludgeons to death with its legs.

Photo Courtesy of NH53 / CC BY-SA 2.0

Apparently, the bird’s name came about when Dutch settlers in Africa called the bird “Sagittarius,” but the local farmers called them “Secretarius.” The latter stuck and eventually the name morphed to the name secretary.

Photo Courtesy of Hispalois / CC BY-SA 4.0

Secretary birds form monogamous pairs defending a large territory of up to 19 sq mi. Breeding can occur at any time of the year, however, it is more frequent at the end of a late dry season. A nest is built, usually at the top of a tree by both male and female, and 1 – 3 eggs are laid at different times. After the eggs hatch the chicks are fed by both adults, which take turns feeding their young. Young usually leave the nest after around 75 – 80 days.

Photo Courtesy of Analise Zocher / CC BY-SA 2.0

Though a bird of prey, Secretary birds are largely terrestrial hunters, hunting down their prey on foot. They do this hunting in pairs or in familial flocks, stalking through their habitat in long strides. Their diet consists mainly of insects such as locusts, beetles, and small mammals like mice, hare, and mongoose. They also eat, crabs, lizards, snakes, tortoises, small birds, along with their eggs.

Photo Courtesy of NH53 / CC BY-SA 2.0

In 1968 the species became protected under the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. They are currently threatened by habitat loss, but conservation efforts are proceeding to slow and hopefully stop the decline in population.

Photo Courtesy of Brian Van de Wetering / CC BY-SA 2.0

In 2016 the population was been estimated to be between 6,700 to 67,00 individuals.

WATCH A VIDEO ON THE SECRETARY BIRD BELOW:

Source: One Big Birdcage

Related posts

30+ Pictures That Made Us Adore The Loving Bond Between Animal Moms And Their Babies

Carolyn Mullet

Extremely Rare White Lion Cub Captured On Camera In Kruger National Park, South Africa

Margot Nolan

10+ Animals Who Tried To Scare Us But Ended Up Looking Cute And Silly

Carolyn Mullet

7-Year-Old Gorilla Is Happy To Help Mom Babysit Her Infant Siblings

Margot Nolan

10+ Animals Who Rock Their Glorious Hairstyles

Carolyn Mullet

20 People Who Share An Unbreakable Bond With Their Pets

Carolyn Mullet

Kind-Hearted Keepers Put On Special Striped Coat To Comfort Orphaned Baby Zebras

Olivia

Curious Beluga Whale Jumped In To Surprise A Wedding Couple With The Best Photobomb

Daniel

15+ Animals Who Love To Turn Up In Unusual and Unexpected Places

Carolyn Mullet

Woman Spotted Leading Parade Of Animals Down The Street In Turkey

Carolyn Mullet

20+ Pets Who Make Humans Jealous Of Their Vivid Facial Expressions

Carolyn Mullet

Parrot Screams “Let Me Out” And Brings Cops To The Home

Carolyn Mullet