Secretary Bird

           Sagittarius serpentarius

 

Secretary Bird Secretary Bird
The bizarre-looking Secretary Bird (but it probably thinks we look bizarre) from Africa is a raptor, the only one with long legs and a Statue of Liberty hairdo
Secretary Bird head Secretary Bird bad hair day
The Liberty hairdo and orange face Another Bad Hair Day
Secretary Bird running Secretary Bird
It runs fast and preys on reptiles It will stamp its foot sharply on a snake's head to immobilise it
Secretary Bird Secretary Bird Secretary Bird
Some say the name Secretary Bird comes from the feathers on its head looking like quills behind the ears of Dickensian clerical staff; others say it is from the Arabic name for hunter-bird which sounds like "secretaire"; possibly it is a derivation of both, the Arabic giving rise to the English name which then stuck. Its Latin name comes from "archer" (the quills) and "serpent" (its prey).
Secretary Bird Secretary Bird Secretary Bird running