Scientific name: Sagittarius serpentarius

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Secretary birds occur in all types of grassland and open savanna habitat, including desert-like open scrub, in sub-Saharan Africa. They prey on a wide variety of animals that are subdued with fast hard kicks. They are most famous as snake-eaters, including poisonous cobras and adders, but they readily eat gamebirds, plovers, chicks, mongooses, and rabbits. All but the largest prey are swallowed whole. Birds are usually encountered in pairs as they walk through their large territories.