secretary bird (redirected from secretary birds)

secretary bird

n.

A large African bird of prey (Sagittarius serpentarius) with long legs and a crest of quills at the back of the head.

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secretary bird

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) a large African long-legged diurnal bird of prey, Sagittarius serpentarius, having a crest and tail of long feathers and feeding chiefly on snakes: family Sagittariidae, order Falconiformes (hawks, falcons, etc.)

[so called because its crest resembles a group of quill pens stuck behind the ear]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

secretary bird - large long-legged African bird of prey that feeds on reptiles Sagittarius serpentarius bird of prey, raptor, raptorial bird - any of numerous carnivorous birds that hunt and kill other animals genus Sagittarius, Sagittarius - type genus of the Sagittariidae