Illustration of secretary bird
secretary bird
noun
: a large long-legged bird of prey (Sagittarius serpentarius of the family Sagittariidae) of sub-Saharan Africa that feeds largely on reptiles
Examples of secretary bird in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why doesn’t the secretary bird leverage talons or beaks like others do?
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2026
Escaping a sudden, massive flood, a smart, mischievous black cat clambers aboard a boat shared by a dog, a capybara, and a lemur, as well as a long-legged secretary bird.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025
While their signature feather crown and slender legs give these birds a regal air, the secretary bird is more mobster than monarch.
—Michael Cross; Story By Tom Page, CNN, 9 July 2020
The secretary bird is distinguished by its long legs and a dramatic black crest of feathers on the back of its head.
—National Geographic, 26 June 2020
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2026
Escaping a sudden, massive flood, a smart, mischievous black cat clambers aboard a boat shared by a dog, a capybara, and a lemur, as well as a long-legged secretary bird.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025
While their signature feather crown and slender legs give these birds a regal air, the secretary bird is more mobster than monarch.
—Michael Cross; Story By Tom Page, CNN, 9 July 2020
The secretary bird is distinguished by its long legs and a dramatic black crest of feathers on the back of its head.
—National Geographic, 26 June 2020
Cite this Entry
“Secretary bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretary%20bird. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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