Information is taken from the game and may change or differ over time. Last updated .
Unlocked at Accreditation Tier 2
Statistics
The secretarybird (or Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large bird of prey that is found throughout the savannahs of Sub-Saharan Africa.
It has long legs, a white feathered body with black-tipped flight feathers on the wings, and black feathers on the thighs. The hooked beak is white, and there is orange-red colouration around the eyes. The secretarybird has a distinctive crest of black and white feathers that protrude around the face.
Both males and females measure between 1.2m and 1.5m tall, have a wingspan of 1.9m to 2.2m, and weigh between 3.7kg and 4.3kg. Some males may have slightly larger tail feathers or crests than females, but generally, both sexes look alike.
- Although the secretarybird can fly, it rarely does and travels mostly by walking.
- The secretarybirds’ scientific name, ‘Sagittarius serpentarius’, means ‘the archer of snakes’.
- The secretarybird is thought to have been named because the fringe of feathers around its head looks like quills tucked behind its ears in the manner of a 19th century law secretary.
- The secretarybird has a very strong kick that it uses to kill snakes.
- Despite their association with snakes, the secretarybird’s prey also contains insects, arachnids and small mammals.
Habitat
Minimum habitat requirements
Planned population
Space
Barrier
Terrain
Environment
Preferred group ranges
Social
Secretarybirds are monogamous and live in mated pairs.
Food-based enrichment
Bamboo Feeder
Dog Ball
Termite MoundToy enrichment
Mirror Mobile
Perch 01
Perch 02
Plant Pot
Rubber Snake
Treasure BoxRelease
Release requirements
Log in to track where you have released this species.
Breeding Partners
Conservation
Once listed as Vulnerable and now classified as Endangered, the secretarybird has declined strongly due to habitat loss and degradation. Much of the open grassland habitat they depend on has been converted for agricultural purposes, while changes in land use and management, such as excessive burning and intensive grazing, reduce prey availability and degrade hunting grounds. Furthermore, collisions with power lines, entanglement in fences, secondary poisoning from pesticides, and unpredictable climate extremes like increased heat and drought further compound these threats.
Long-term tracking, including citizen science reports, and ecological research on the secretarybird are means to understand and mitigate these issues. Collaboration with landowners seeks to promote wildlife-friendly farming practices. Modified fence design and marked powerlines can reduce infrastructure-related casualties. Captive breeding offers insight for potential releases into struggling wild populations. With these strategies, the hope is that existing populations can be protected and made more resilient in the face of climate change and expanding human pressures.
Research
| Level | Unlocks | Bonus | Research gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thriving Requirement 1: Light Soil terrain | ||
| 2 | Thriving Requirement 2: at least 12 objects or plants with the Climbable tag; Secretarybird Fact Sheet | ||
| 3 | Release groups and release to the wild | ||
| 4 | Thriving Requirement 3: Food Grade 2; Fertility Level 1 | Fertility (+15%) | Before this level: an Observation Network (Observation Platform) in Great Rift Valley Reserve and this species released in Great Rift Valley Reserve |
| 5 | Thriving Requirement 4: at least 50% native plants | ||
| 6 | Thriving Requirement 5: Canopy Platform Nest - Large, at least 2; Fertility Level 2 | Fertility (+30%) |
Conservation topics
Life
Reproduction
Lifecycle
Body
2.2 m
2.2 mBreeding
While secretarybirds can mate year-round if prey is abundant, the peak is primarily in the rainy season. A male and female secretarybird find a thorny tree, usually acacia, where they build their nest as a large platform in the canopy. The pair will court by flying high and swooping low over each other and the nest, males often being more active. Mating usually takes place on the ground.
Soon after copulation, the female lays 1 to 3 eggs in the nest, usually laid 2 days apart. Both the male and female take it in turns to incubate the eggs for a total of 42 to 46 days until they hatch. After hatching, both parents hunt for food and visit the chicks to feed them 3 to 5 times a day. Between 63 and 106 days old, the chicks fledge, and parental care will stop.
Young fledglings leave their parents’ territory and attempt to find their own. Secretarybirds reach sexual maturity between 3 and 4 years old and begin searching for their own mate and nesting grounds at this point.