The secret of the gracefulness of the birds found in African savannas lies in the name ‘secretary bird’. The secretary bird, a tall bird that has wings like those of an eagle, gains fame owing to its ability to hunt venomous snakes, including cobras, using its kicks.
While most predators use their claws and beaks to kill their prey, the secretary bird uses kicks to do the same. For many years, scientists and ornithologists have been studying the behaviour of the bird, intrigued by the evolution of the bird into an efficient hunter.
How the Secretary Bird hunts Cobras
The hunting behaviour of the Secretary Bird is unique among raptors. While other raptors hunt by diving down onto their prey from above, the Secretary Bird hunts on foot, moving through grasslands and pouncing upon its prey, which often includes dangerous species such as cobras.Scientists have found that the kicks used by the Secretary Birds against snakes are very rapid and powerful. According to findings from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it has been found that biomechanically, the strike of the bird reaches up to speeds of 15 milliseconds with sufficient force to stun or kill the prey almost instantly. As stated by biologist Steven Portugal of the Royal Veterinary College:“The Secretary Bird executes rapid strikes with pinpoint accuracy, enabling it to eliminate prey that would otherwise pose a serious threat to its own life.”
This ensures that the snake does not get an opportunity to bite the bird, making the Secretary Bird among the few predators to regularly hunt venomous snakes.
The science behind its deadly kick
The reason why the Secretary Bird is such an efficient striker lies in both its physical traits and its evolutionary development. The bird has very powerful legs that are also protected by heavy scales, preventing bites from other animals. Another advantage of the bird is its excellent vision, which enables it to see even the smallest movement under the bushes and tall grass.According to a scientific paper, ‘Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius Population Trends and Ecology: Insights from South African Citizen Science Data‘ by the University of Cape Town, the strength of the bird’s strikes is not far behind that of many bigger creatures. In the paper, one can read:“The force generated during a strike is sufficient to immobilise prey almost immediately.”Furthermore, its hunting technique shows an evolutionary development that was unique to the bird. While other birds of prey specialised in flying assaults on their prey, the Secretary Bird adapted its hunting habits to land assaults.
Why is this bird vital to the ecosystem
Aside from its hunting prowess, the Secretary Bird serves a significant ecological function. It helps regulate the numbers of snakes, rodents, and insects by keeping their populations in check.According to conservation experts from the University of Cambridge, the Secretary Bird is currently under threat since it is listed as vulnerable because of habitat degradation and human disturbance. Its conservation is not only about saving one particular species but an entire ecosystem.As wildlife ecologists in ‘Recent distribution and population trends for Secretarybirds Sagittarius serpentarius in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini from citizen science data’ observed:“Carnivores, such as the Secretary Bird, are critical in sustaining biological diversity and ecological stability.”The Secretary Bird is a unique creature that exhibits how remarkable nature can be. With its graceful walk and lethal strike, it defies all our preconceived notions of what birds of prey should be like. The Secretary Bird is far more than merely a snake hunter.
