Secretary Bird

LC Carnivore Grasslands, Savannas
2.3–4.5 kg
Weight
10–15 yrs
Lifespan
32 km/h
Top Speed
Africa
Found In

Endemic to Africa, the Secretary Bird is a carnivore species inhabiting grasslands, savannas habitats. Weighing 2.3–4.5 kg, it is classified as Least Concern.

Physical Characteristics & Habitat

Size & Speed

Metric Secretary Bird Carnivore Birds Median Difference
Weight 3.4 kg 2.3 kg ↑ 48%
Height 125 cm
Top Speed 32 km/h 33.5 km/h ↓ 4%
Avg Speed 24 km/h
Weight (kg)3.4avg 2.3Speed (km/h)32avg 33.5Lifespan (yrs)12.5avg 18.8

Habitat & Distribution

The Secretary Bird inhabits grasslands, savannas habitats. It can be found in Africa.

Typical coloring: Black, Grey.

Diet & Predators

Diet: Carnivore
Predators: Snakes, Lizards

Behavior & Reproduction

Social Structure

The Secretary Bird is a solitary species belonging to the Sagittariidae family.

Reproduction

Gestation Period: 42–46 days
Offspring per Birth: 2
Lifespan: 10–15 years

Conservation & Comparison

IUCN Conservation Status

LC The Secretary Bird is classified as Least Concern. There are 66 species with the same status in our database.

Species Comparison

Among 13 carnivore birds, the Secretary Bird’s weight of 2.3–4.5 kg is higher than the group median of 2.3 kg.

Weight rank: #42 of 66 Least Concern species.

# Species Weight Status
1 Humpback Whale Up to 30000 kg LC
2 Walrus Up to 1200 kg LC
3 Yak 500–1200 kg LC
4 Water Buffalo 300–1200 kg LC
5 Zebra 400–900 kg LC

Related Species

How much does a Secretary Bird weigh?

A Secretary Bird typically weighs 2.3–4.5 kg, which is above average compared to the median of 2.3 kg among carnivore birds.

What is the conservation status of the Secretary Bird?

The Secretary Bird is classified as “Least Concern”. There are 66 species with the same status in our database.

Where does the Secretary Bird live?

The Secretary Bird is found in Africa, in grasslands, savannas habitats.

How does the Secretary Bird reproduce?

The Secretary Bird has a gestation period of 42–46 days and typically produces 2 offspring per birth.

Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.

Last Updated: April 10, 2026