Secretarybird

Description:

The Secretarybird or 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 given its own family, Sagittariidae.

Habitat:

Secretary Birds are endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa and are non-migratory, though they may follow food sources.[13] Their range extends from Senegal to Somalia and south to the Cape of Good Hope.[9] These birds are also found at a variety of elevations, from the coastal plains to the highlands. Secretary Birds prefer open grasslands and savannas rather than forests and dense shrubbery which may impede their cursorial existence.[14] While the birds roost on the local Acacia trees at night, they spend much of the day on the ground, returning to roosting sites just before dark.