The secretary bird (or snake-eating kite) is the only species in the bird genus of the Sagittariidae family (scientific name is Sagittarius snakearius).
The scientific name of the genus “Sagittarius” is from the Latin word for “archer”, perhaps comparing the quills of the snake-eating kite to a quiver, while the species designation “serpentarius” is reminiscent of skill. of this bird in reptile hunting.
The snake-eating kite is a large bird of prey endemic to Africa, often found in sparse grasslands and savannas. The snake-eating kite appears on the coats of arms of Sudan and South Africa. They are often called Secretary Birds because the feathers on their heads resemble the quills often worn on the heads of secretaries in medieval Europe.
This bird has many special things to say, but the most special thing is its long, shiny eyelashes that make every woman jealous.
With 10 years of experience in nature photography, photographer Brian Connolly still makes a strong impression when taking photos of snakes eating kites.
“They are unique,” Brian told BP . “They specialize in hunting snakes on land with strong legs and claws like dinosaurs.”
That’s not wrong at all. Despite its luxurious appearance, snake-eating kites can eat many living animals, especially land snakes.
Unlike most birds of prey, snake-eating kites spend most of their lives on land and kill their prey with their feet. According to biologists, they can move more than 30km a day to hunt snakes, insects and many other animals.
The strength of the snake-eating kite lies mainly in its strong legs. They often trample their prey to death or jump around to chase their enemies away.
“Taking photos of snake-eating kites is just as difficult as other wild animals ,” Brian said. “They move very fast and focusing is not easy.”
“The snake-eating kite has a quite friendly shape. When mature, it can be up to 1.35m tall, weigh 3.3kg with a wingspan of up to 2m.”
Admire some more images of this unique bird:
Refer to Wiki/BP
