Is the Secretary Bird Named So Because It Looks Like a Secretary?

Within the complex world of avian nomenclature, few names spark as much curiosity as the secretary bird—a majestic and enigmatic species whose title reflects a fascinating blend of history, myth, and ornithological observation.

Have you ever wondered why the secretary bird is named so? This unique bird of prey, endemic to Africa, has a striking appearance that combines an eagle-like body with crane-like legs and a crest of black feathers on its head. But what does this have to do with secretaries?

Standing at about 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) tall and measuring about the same in length, the secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a unique bird of prey that lives in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of its family, Sagittariidae, and it is mostly terrestrial, hunting on the ground with its long legs and powerful feet. It can stomp its prey to death, especially snakes, for which it is sometimes referred to “the archer of snakes”. It has a distinctive appearance, with an red-orange face, grey plumage, a black crest, and two long tail feathers.

Now to the name. There are several theories as to why the bird is called ‘secretary,’ but none of them is conclusive. In 1769, the Dutch naturalist Arnout Vosmaer documented the secretary bird based on a live specimen received in Holland from the Cape of Good Hope, sent by an official of the Dutch East India Company two years prior.

Vosmaer asserted that Dutch settlers called the species “sagittarius” because its gait was perceived to resemble that of an archer. Additionally, he noted that farmers, who had domesticated the bird for pest control around their homes, referred to it as the “secretarius.” Vosmaer suggested that “secretarius” might be a corruption of “sagittarius.”

In 2018, Ian Glenn from the University of the Free State proposed an alternative view, suggesting that Vosmaer’s “sagittarius” is more likely a misheard or mistranscribed form of “secretarius,” rather than the reverse. Others support this idea and claim that farmers domesticated these birds with the purpose of training them to protect the crops – and act as a sort of “Secretary of the Crops,” if you will.

In 1780, Comte de Buffon suggested the name refers to the black feathers on the back of the head, which are reminiscent of quill pens that ancient scribes often put behind their ears. At the same time, the bird’s grey and black plumage are reminiscent of the tailcoats worn by secretaries.

Yet another theory claims the name comes from the Arabic word “saqr-et-tair”, which means either “hawk of the semi-desert” or “hawk that flies”. This word was mispronounced by the French as “secretary” and then adopted by other languages.

Glenn, however, rejected this etymology by arguing that there is no evidence of the name’s passage through the French, instead favoring Buffon’s proposed origin, asserting that the term originates from the Dutch word “secretaris,” used by settlers in South Africa.

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So yes, the secretary bird is indeed most likely called so because it looks like, or acts like, a secretary. But this is not the only fun fact about this amazing bird. Here are some more:

• It can kick with a force five times its body weight and has scales on its legs to protect from snake bites.
• It mates for life and builds large nests on acacia trees, where it lays two or three eggs each summer.
• It has a wingspan of 2 meters (6 ft 5 in) and can fly, but prefers to walk up to 30 kilometers per day.

Lastly, there’s a fact about this remarkable bird that’s not funny at all: it is classified as endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss and human persecution. That’s really sad because, whatever the true origin of the name, the secretary bird is an awesome creature that deserves our attention and conservation.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5