Where the Secretarybird Walks — Its striking crest is believed to have inspired the name Secretarybird.Nikon Z7_2 | ISO-3200 | f/6.3 | 1/5000 sec. | 600mm

WILD SYSTEMS | SPECIES RECOVERY | RAPTOR CONSERVATION

Where the Secretarybird Walks

A story of resilience across South Africa's changing grasslands.

There are few birds that challenge our expectations of what a raptor should be.

The Secretarybird spends much of its life on the ground, walking the open plains with long deliberate strides, moving through grasslands and fynbos with the patience of a hunter that has mastered the art of observation.

At first glance, there is something almost improbable about it.

A bird built for flight that chooses to walk.

A predator that hunts not from the sky, but from the earth.

The last living member of the family Sagittariidae, whose fossil relatives stretch back more than 20 million years.

Yet this is precisely what makes the Secretarybird so remarkable.

Secretarybird — photograph by Raquel de Castro Maia — The Secretarybird pauses briefly to scan its surroundings, meeting our gaze before continuing its measured walk across the plains in search of prey.Nikon Z7_2 | ISO-3200 | f/6.3 | 1/5000 sec. | 600mm

Across the landscape it moves with purpose, searching for insects, rodents, reptiles and other small prey hidden amongst the vegetation. Every movement is measured. Every step forms part of a quiet conversation with the environment around it. When prey is detected, the calm gives way to astonishing speed and precision, transforming the elegant silhouette into one of Africa's most effective hunters. Secretarybirds are known for hunting on foot and striking prey with powerful, rapid kicks, an adaptation unlike that of any other African raptor.

Landscape — photograph by Raquel de Castro Maia — A misty morning across the Secretarybird's range. These open grasslands provide everything it needs to survive: a place to hunt, feed and nest. A breeding pair may occupy a territory of up to 50 km², where they help maintain the delicate balance of the ecosystem by keeping populations of rodents, reptiles and insects in check.Nikon Z7_2 | ISO-1500 | f/6.3 | 1/640 sec. | 24mm

The Hunter That Chose the Earth

Red Hopper — photograph by Raquel de Castro Maia — A red grasshopper makes a welcome meal for a Secretarybird. Although famous for hunting snakes, these adaptable raptors feed on a wide variety of prey, from insects to rodents and reptiles.

Nestling — photograph by Raquel de Castro Maia — A vulnerable nestling hidden in the grass becomes an opportunistic meal. Secretarybirds are adaptable predators, taking advantage of whatever suitable prey the landscape provides.

Chameleon — photograph by Raquel de Castro Maia — Chameleons, lizards and other small reptiles form an important part of the Secretarybird's diverse diet, particularly in warmer months when reptile activity increases.

Sunset — photograph by Raquel de Castro Maia — Healthy grasslands nurture extraordinary biodiversity. Every insect, reptile and small mammal forms part of a living ecosystem that ultimately sustains the Secretarybird and countless other species.

Half Bird. Half Horizon.

To spend time observing Secretarybirds is to witness a species deeply connected to the landscapes it inhabits. They move with an awareness that seems inseparable from the grasslands beneath their feet, following rhythms shaped by weather, seasons and the availability of prey.

Yet despite their familiarity in African folklore and imagery, Secretarybirds are facing an uncertain future. Across much of their range, populations have declined as habitats become fragmented and pressures on open landscapes continue to increase. Researchers are working to better understand their movements, breeding ecology and habitat requirements in order to help secure the future of this Endangered species.

What remains most memorable, however, is not their rarity.

It is their presence.

The way they walk through the landscape with quiet confidence.

The way they seem to belong completely to the places they inhabit.

Half bird.

Half horizon.

A reminder that some of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife stories are written not only in the skies above us, but in the ground beneath our feet.

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Species Notes

The Secretarybird is an Endangered African raptor and the last living member of the family Sagittariidae, whose fossil relatives stretch back more than 20 million years. This photographic essay documents ongoing conservation research undertaken with HawkWatch International, helping to better understand the movement ecology, breeding success and habitat requirements of one of Africa's most iconic birds. Secretarybirds spend much of their time hunting on foot, feeding primarily on insects, small mammals and reptiles within open landscapes.

Questions From the Field

Why is the Secretarybird unusual for a raptor?

It spends much of its life on the ground, walking the open plains with long deliberate strides. A bird built for flight that chooses to walk; a predator that hunts from the earth rather than the sky

What kind of country do Secretarybirds move through?

Grasslands and fynbos, open landscapes crossed with the patience of a hunter that has mastered observation.

How do you photograph a bird that walks rather than perches?

On its terms and at its pace. I work at ground level in open country, which asks for distance, stillness and a willingness to let the bird set the encounter.

Do you work with conservation organisations on species storytelling?

Yes. I work alongside the people studying a species, which is what makes the images useful rather than decorative.

Are you available for grassland and open-country commissions?

Yes, I work across southern Africa. Get in touch with the species, the site and the timing you have in mind.

Why is the Secretarybird described as the last of an ancient lineage?

It's the sole surviving member of the family Sagittariidae, whose fossil relatives date back more than 20 million years, making it one of the most evolutionarily distinct raptors alive today.

How does a Secretarybird kill its prey?

By stamping. A trained male has been recorded striking with a force equal to five times its own body weight, in a contact time of just 10 to 15 milliseconds, a hunting method unlike any other African raptor.

Can images from this story be licensed?

Yes. This usually means editorial use (a magazine or article), campaign use (marketing or advertising), or conservation-communication use (a conservation organisation's own reports or outreach material). Tell me what you need and where it will run.

Species fact files

Fact file

Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Genus Sagittarius · Sagittariidae

Endangered

Habitat: Open grasslands, savanna and shrubland across sub-Saharan Africa; favours grass under 0.5 m, avoiding dense vegetation and desert
Lifespan: 10–15 years in the wild; up to about 19 years in captivity

Key facts

A large terrestrial raptor that hunts on foot, stalking prey across grassland rather than diving, an eagle-like head and body on crane-like legs, standing about 1.3 m tall.
It kills snakes and other prey by stamping: a trained male struck with a force equal to five times its own body weight, with a contact time of just 10–15 milliseconds.
Uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered by the IUCN in 2020 after evidence of severe, widespread declines across its sub-Saharan range.
It appears on South Africa's coat of arms (adopted 2000), where its snake-killing habit symbolises the protection of the state.