Secretary Bird
Secretary BirdSecretary BirdSecretary BirdSecretary Bird

Secretary Bird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
65 Verified records at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large bird of prey that is endemic to Africa. It is mostly terrestrial, spending most of its time on the ground, and is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779. A member of the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, and harriers, it is placed in its own family, the Sagittariidae. The secretarybird is instantly recognizable as a very large bird with an eagle-like body on crane-like legs that give the bird a height of as much as 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in). The sexes are similar in appearance. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Secretary Bird sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 65 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pale Chanting Goshawk
LC

Pale Chanting Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax canorus

60–70% · Likely
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

50–60% · Likely
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

40–50% · Likely
Martial Eagle
EN

Martial Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polemaetus bellicosus

30–40% · Possible
Gabar Goshawk
LC

Gabar Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Micronisus gabar

20–30% · Possible
Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

20–30% · Possible
Black-breasted Snake Eagle
LC

Black-breasted Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus pectoralis

20–30% · Possible
Lappet-faced Vulture
EN

Lappet-faced Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Torgos tracheliotos

10–20% · With luck
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

5–10% · With luck
Black-winged Kite
LC

Black-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus caeruleus

5–10% · With luck
Brown Snake Eagle
LC

Brown Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinereus

5–10% · With luck
Pale Harrier
NT

Pale Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus macrourus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
30–40
Feb
30–40
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
2 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
3 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
4 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
5 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
6 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
7 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
8 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
9 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
10 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
11 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
12 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
10–20%
13 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
14 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
15 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
16 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
17 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
18 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
19 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
5–10%
20 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
21 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
22 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
23 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
24 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
25 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
26 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
27 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
28 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
29 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
30 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
31 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
32 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
33 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
34 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Secretary Bird in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

About 25% of wildlife watchers report a Secretary Bird sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 65 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Secretary Bird in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Secretary Bird in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in our monthly data.

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