Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) Fact Sheet: Distribution & Habitat

• Widespread south of the Sahara and across South Africa
• High altitudes in Drakensberg to the semi-desert of Kalahari
• Not found in forests or true desert (coastal Namibia)
• Common, but numbers reduced by urban sprawl and agriculture (sugarcane, orchards)

• Open woodland, savanna and steppe
• Prefers short open grasslands with scattered Acacia thorn trees for roosting and nesting
• Avoids areas which hinder its ability to walk or fly
• Dense, tall grass cover makes walking about and flight difficult
• Dense woodlands or hilly, rocky areas also make walking difficult

Secretary Bird distribution.

Adapted from www.d-maps.com according to IUCN fact sheet. Click here or on map for detailed distribution (IUCN)

Brown (1972)
Kemp (1994)
Steyn (1982)