The Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large African bird. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
The secretary bird is a member of the Accipitriformes, a group of predatory birds that also includes eagles and hawks, that is adapted for hunting on the ground. It is a tall bird, reaching heights of up to 1.3m 4.3ft) and features long crane-like legs, although its head and body otherwise closely resembles an eagle. It is believed to have gotten its common name due to the crest of black feathers on the back of its head, which was reminiscent of secretaries tucking their quill pens behind their ears.
Although the secretary bird can fly and will roost and nest in trees, it is a terrestrial hunter, preying on small animals including mammals, other birds, reptiles and insects. Whilst hunting, it will use its long legs to kick at the grass to flush out prey, before stomping on them. Using this technique, it is capable of killing venomous snakes such as cobras. The secretary bird occurs in grasslands and savannah across sub-Saharan Africa, but despite the large range, numbers are believed to be rapidly declining.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
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Click here to open The Secretary Bird scenario article. |
"A long-legged predator with a crest of black feathers"- Animal Panel description.
The secretary bird is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the African Adventure expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 3 stars. One of the scenarios added to the pack focuses heavily on it.
The secretary bird is a Grassland animal. Although quite small and happiest as a pair, it does require a large exhibit.
 zootycoon.com Description
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| The secretary bird is a large bird of prey found in Africa south of the Sahara. It has very long legs, a long tail, and a powerful, hooked beak. Many books derive the origin of the bird's name from a resemblance of its crest of long feathers to a group of quill pens placed behind the ear. But the name is actually a mispronunciation of the Arabic name for the species. The secretary bird feeds on small animals and reptiles, particularly snakes, generally by stalking them. Secretary birds rarely fly. These solitary birds build large, strong nests of twigs in trees or bushes. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The secretary bird is one of the four flying animals from Zoo Tycoon 2 (the others being the Common Peafowl, the Greater Flamingo and the Protarchaeopteryx).
- The Secretary Bird is listed as Low Risk in Zoo Tycoon 2, but the species has since been reclassified as Endangered.
- Despite its in-game location, secretary birds are not found in Asia.