Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius (Miller, JF, 1779)

Sagittariidae — Secretarybird

Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, is a bird of prey found across Africa and breeds widely there. It belongs to the order Accipitriformes and the family Sagittariidae. It is a large, mainly ground-dwelling bird of open grassland and savanna in sub-Saharan Africa. Its most striking feature is its eagle-like body carried on long, crane-like legs. The species was described by Miller in 1779. It is also known for a featherless red-orange face, grey plumage, a dark flattened crest, and black flight feathers and thighs.

Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Sagittariidae — Secretarybird
Breeding range
Africa: widespread
Secretarybird
© Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

21 tours in South Africa 7, Kenya 6, Uganda 3, Tanzania 3, Botswana 1, Namibia 1

Birds and Wildlife of Kenya with Lawson's Safaris
Birds and Wildlife of Kenya with Lawson's Safaris
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 16 days

Cross Kenya over 16 days from Nairobi to Samburu, Rift Valley lakes, Kakamega, Lake Victoria and the Masai Mara for birds and wildlife....

From USD 7,390 Next: May 17, 2027
10 Days Kenya Birding and Wildlife: Mara, Victoria and Kakamega
10 Days Kenya Birding and Wildlife: Mara, Victoria and Kakamega
Kenya / Nairobi Custom tour 10 days

Link Nairobi and the Masai Mara with papyrus birding on Lake Victoria, two days in Kakamega Forest and Lake Nakuru’s lakeshore, woodland a...

16 Days Eastern Uganda Birding: Mabira, Elgon and Kidepo
16 Days Eastern Uganda Birding: Mabira, Elgon and Kidepo
Uganda / Entebbe Custom tour 16 days

Explore eastern Uganda from Mabira’s rainforest to Mount Elgon, Pian Upe and Kidepo, with several days in dry-country reserves and a final...

13-Day Wings Over the Wild Birding and Photography Safari
13-Day Wings Over the Wild Birding and Photography Safari
Botswana / Maun 13 days

A private 13-day birding and wildlife photography journey from Maun to Kasane through Moremi, Khwai, Savuti and the Chobe Riverfront, with m...

From USD 7,200
30-Day Hardcore Uganda Birding Safari
30-Day Hardcore Uganda Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 30 days

An intensive month-long expedition linking Uganda’s major wetlands, Albertine Rift forests, savannah parks and eastern dry-country habitat...

6-Day Kidepo and Murchison Semi-Arid Savanna Birding
6-Day Kidepo and Murchison Semi-Arid Savanna Birding
Uganda / Kidepo Valley Private tour 6 days

A six-day northern Uganda circuit connecting Kidepo Valley’s semi-arid savanna with the woodland, grassland and Nile habitats of Murchison...

14-Day Eastern Arc and Northern Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
14-Day Eastern Arc and Northern Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 14 days

A 14-day private Tanzania birding itinerary linking Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, the Usambara Mountains, Amani Nature Reserve a...

Nairobi National Park Birding
Nairobi National Park Birding
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A full birding day in Nairobi National Park, moving through grassland, riverine forest and wetlands only a short drive from the city center....

Lukenya Hills
Lukenya Hills
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private birding day at Lukenya Hills, combining rocky ridges, Athi–Kapiti plains and raptor watching about 40 kilometers southeast of Na...

Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private birding and wildlife day in compact Lake Nakuru National Park, focused on the Rift Valley soda lake, flamingos, pelicans and varie...

Tailor-Made Kenya Birding with Adarsh Nagda
Tailor-Made Kenya Birding with Adarsh Nagda
Kenya / Nairobi Private tour

Private, tailor-made birding guidance from Nairobi and across Kenya with birder, conservationist and photographer Adarsh Nagda....

10-Day Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
10-Day Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 10 days

A high-density 10-day birding program through the Arusha foothills, Maasai Steppe, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the central Serengeti, combinin...

15-Day Luxury Birding Safari in Tanzania with Wings Explorers Tours
15-Day Luxury Birding Safari in Tanzania with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 15 days

A 15-day luxury Tanzania birding safari from Arusha to Arusha National Park, Mkomazi, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti....

From USD 20,420
6-Day Khoisan Karoo Conservancy Birding Tour
6-Day Khoisan Karoo Conservancy Birding Tour
South Africa / Northern Cape Private tour 6 days

A 6-day Karoo birding itinerary focused on Karoo National Park and Khoisan Karoo Conservancy dry-country habitats....

7-Day Mokala National Park Birding Tour
7-Day Mokala National Park Birding Tour
South Africa / Northern Cape Private tour 7 days

A 7-day Karoo and Mokala National Park birding route linking Karoo National Park, Khoisan Karoo Conservancy and Mokala....

2-Day West Coast Birding Tour
2-Day West Coast Birding Tour
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 2 days

Explore the Western Cape coast over two days, from Darling farmland and Geelbek shorebirds to a Berg River boat trip and Velddrif wetlands....

3-Day Grootvadersbosch and De Hoop Birding Tour
3-Day Grootvadersbosch and De Hoop Birding Tour
South Africa / George Private tour 3 days

Follow a three-day Western Cape route from the Breede River and Grootvadersbosch forest to the open landscapes of De Hoop Nature Reserve....

10-Day Western Cape Birding Tour
10-Day Western Cape Birding Tour
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 10 days

A private or small-group Western Cape birding itinerary from Cape Town through the Cape Peninsula, West Coast, Tankwa Karoo, Agulhas Plain, ...

Private West Coast Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
Private West Coast Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 1 day

A private full-day circuit from Cape Town through Darling and the West Coast National Park for larks, korhaans, raptors, shorebirds and coas...

From ZAR 7,000
Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
Namibia / Walvis Bay Group tour 18 days

An 18-day birding expedition from Namibia's Atlantic coast through Etosha and the Okavango Panhandle to Victoria Falls, combining desert nea...

From USD 10,206
Private 3-Day Agulhas Plains Birding Trip with Birding Ecotours
Private 3-Day Agulhas Plains Birding Trip with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 3 days

A private three-day journey from Cape Town across mountain fynbos and the Overberg to De Hoop, built around cranes, bustards, larks and regi...

From ZAR 17,920