Random Fascinating Facts About Secretary Bird, A Snake-Killing Badass (12 items)

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  (#2) They Love Kicking Snakes To Death

  Secretary birds are perhaps most well known for their exceptionally long legs, which they use to murder snakes and anything else small enough to swallow whole. They hunt using their feet, kicking their prey with tremendous force until it is stunned enough to swallow. This crazy animal attack is particularly good at dealing with venomous snakes, where a single strike to the bird’s body could be fatal. Scientists have studied the power behind a secretary bird’s kick, and what they found out was amazing. They kick in rapid succession, and each kick is so fast it only makes contact with their prey for 15 milliseconds, which is 10 times as fast as the blink of a human eye.
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  (#11) Males Do Aerial Dances For Females

  Although they spend most of their time on the ground, that doesn't mean secretary birds can’t fly. They fly up into the trees at night to sleep, and they are known for the aerial mating displays. When two potential mates meet, they take the skies and engage in an elaborate ritual where they will soar to great heights. The males will perform an impressive dive-bomb toward the female, and she will often turn and show her claws as a sign of approval. 
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  (#5) Their Latin Name - The Archer Of Snakes - Is Super Cool

  While the common name "secretary bird" may not be the most terrifying in the animal kingdom, their scientific names are much more badass. They have been officially classified with the Latin name Sagittarius serpentarius, which literally translate to "the archer of snakes". They are named for their ability to annihilate even the most venomous snakes with ease, stomping them to death with their long legs before swallowing them whole like a dinosaur.
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  (#10) They Are One Of The Only Terrestrial Birds Of Prey

  The secretary bird is unique amongst raptors, as it is only one of two species of predatory bird to do it's hunting from the ground. Just one other bird, the caracaras, is known to also hunt on their feet. They are the sole living representative of the family Sagittariidae, making them somewhat of a loner in the bird world. Their unique hunting style as well as their incredibly long legs gives secretary birds a dinosaur-like appearance, as they lumber around Africa and eat anything they step on.
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  (#7) The Might Be Named After Their Physical Similarities To Male Secretaries

  The stories behind the secretary bird’s peculiar name may be myth, but they are too interesting to ignore. It all started when Europeans first discovered these birds in the 1800s. It is believed the name came from one of two features; either they were named after the quill-like feathers on the back of their heads that resemble a pen behind the ear, or their distinctive grey coats and black leg-feathers resemble the jacket and tie common of male secretaries at the time of their discovery.
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  (#1) These Birds Terrorize Their Prey

  Like the prehistoric terror birds, secretary birds can be extremely intimidating when they hunt. If getting bashed in the face with their ferocious feet wasn't awful enough, secretary birds are known to extend their wings and raise the quill-like feathers on their head while attacking. Not only does this make them look much bigger and scarier, it’s also a life-saving defensive technique.

  These birds often target snakes, some of which can be highly venomous, and therefore need to avoid being bitten. With their wings spread, deadly snakes will often strike at the hollow feathers. This is harmless for the bird and acts as a distraction to the snake, who’s venomous bite could be fatal if hits the birds soft, fleshy body.

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