Secretarybird

The Secretarybird is one of the most sought-after species to track on an African safari, and knowing its habits turns a hopeful search into a confident one. This field guide breaks down how to recognise the Secretarybird at a glance, the habitats and times of day that reward patient searching, and the practical tracking craft guides rely on. Read it before you set out and you will spend less time scanning empty bush and more time watching the animal itself.

Distinctive long black crest on top of the head; tall body, long bare legs adapted for terrestrial walking; broad wings with a wingspan up to 2.1 meters in flight; bare red facial skin; plumage mainly a mix of gray and black

Concentrate your search for the Secretarybird in Open sparse woodland savannas, grasslands, and shrub areas, preferring open ground environments with good visibility, the habitat where it feels most secure and finds its food. It is most active Diurnal, active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, so plan your game drives around those hours rather than the heat of midday. Across the continent the species ranges through Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, especially common in Kenya, Tanzania (including Masai Mara), and South Africa, and within that range the richest sightings come where prime habitat meets low human disturbance.

Finding the Secretarybird starts long before you see it. Learn the habitat it depends on — Open sparse woodland savannas, grasslands, and shrub areas, preferring open ground environments with good visibility — and you narrow the search from an entire landscape to a handful of promising corners. Animals are not scattered at random; they sit where food, water, cover and safety overlap, and the Secretarybird is no exception.