Bird · Resident
Secretarybird
How to identify the secretarybird
Pale grey with black flight feathers and "shorts", bare orange-red skin on the face, a crest of long black quills at the back of the head, and very long legs and central tail feathers.
Where to see the secretarybird in Murchison Falls National Park
In open grassland on game drives north of the Nile. Sightings are a matter of luck.
Habitat
Open grassland and lightly wooded savanna.
What the secretarybird eats
Snakes, lizards, large insects, small mammals and young birds.
Behaviour
Pairs walk long distances each day. Prey is stamped on with fast, hard blows of the feet.
Best time to see the secretarybird
All year. Resident, here all year.
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Further reading: en.wikipedia.org.
Questions about the secretarybird
How does a secretarybird kill snakes?
It stamps on them with its feet. The kicks are fast and powerful enough to stun or kill a snake before it can strike.
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