The secretarybird has stilt-like legs and a wingspan of more than 2 meters (6.6 feet). This bird doesn’t soar like hawks or eagles. Instead, it walks for hours across grasslands, scanning the ground as it hunts on foot. Secretarybirds are found across sub-Saharan Africa, especially in open savannas and scrublands. They may cover dozens of kilometers a day while patrolling for prey.

These birds are famous for hunting snakes, including venomous ones like cobras and puff adders. But they don’t rely on their beak. They kill with their feet.

A secretarybird’s kick is both fast and powerful, striking in just 15 milliseconds with a force more than five times its body weight. That’s enough to crush bone or sever a spine. They usually aim for the head, delivering a fatal blow before the snake can react.