AnimalsSavanna
Secretary bird Fun facts for kids
Sagittarius serpentarius
The secretary bird lives on grassy plains in Africa and eats mostly insects, plus mice and snakes.
- Where it lives
- on grassy plains in Africa
- What it eats
- mostly insects, plus mice and snakes
- How big it is
- about as tall as a big child
Fun facts about the secretary bird
The ones Sammy likes best. She tells them in the game, too.
It has long, dark eyelashes, which is very unusual for a bird.
One of its kicks hit as hard as five times its own weight, and it was over in a flash.
Its name probably comes from its long head feathers, which look like old pens tucked behind a secretary's ear.
It has the longest legs of any bird of prey, longer than any eagle or hawk.
It stomps on clumps of grass to make hiding grasshoppers, mice and lizards jump out.
The bare orange red skin on its face can turn brighter when it gets excited.
Its legs are covered in thick scales that protect them when it stomps on snakes.
Even though it hunts on foot, it flies well and sleeps high up in trees at night.
Riddle
Can a friend guess it?
Read the clues to someone, one at a time, without saying the animal. How many clues do they need? Fewer is better, just like in the game.
I live on the grassy plains of Africa and walk a long way every day.
I stomp on clumps of grass to make hiding grasshoppers, mice and lizards jump out.
I have long, dark eyelashes, which is very unusual for a bird.
I'm a cousin of eagles, and my long head feathers look like old pens tucked behind an ear.
I have the longest legs of any bird of prey, and I kill snakes with lightning-fast kicks.
Sammy might be thinking of a secretary bird.
In Thought Zoo, Sammy picks an animal and you ask her yes-or-no questions to find it. You'll find the secretary bird in the Savanna adventure.
Play the SavannaComing to iPad, iPhone and Android on 12 January 2027
