An In-Depth Look At Secretary Bird Lashes

The secretary bird is a large bird of prey that is known for its long eyelash-like feathers. These eye-catching feathers have led many to wonder – why does the secretary bird have such long lashes? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll uncover the details behind the secretary bird’s iconic lashes.

If you’re short on time, here’s the key point: The secretary bird’s long, eyelash-like feathers likely help protect its eyes from damage while hunting prey on the African grasslands.

In this article, we’ll explore the secretary bird’s habitat and behavior, take a close look at the structure and function of its eyelash feathers, and compare them to lashes found in other birds. We’ll also discuss how the lashes contribute to the secretary bird’s unique appearance.

An Introduction to the Secretary Bird

Native Habitat and Physical Description

The iconic secretary bird is a large, terrestrial bird of prey native to sub-Saharan Africa. They can be found roaming the grasslands and savannas of countries like South Africa, Namibia, and Tanzania.

Secretary birds stand around 3-4 feet tall, with long legs suited for walking and kicking their prey. Their most distinctive feature is the crest of long, black quill-like feathers protruding from the back of their head that gives them their name.

The secretary bird’s plumage is creamily grey on the back and wings, with a black face and tail. Their undersides range from buff to deep orange depending on the subspecies.

Secretary birds require large ranges up to 19-68 square miles in size. They prefer open grassland plains with scattered acacia trees and shrubs. This landscape provides good visibility for spotting prey while hunting, as well as acacia trees to nest in.

Secretary birds are well adapted to hot, arid environments and do not migrate or travel nomadically to follow rains like some African species.

Hunting Behavior

The secretary bird is a formidable predator that mostly feeds on small mammals, reptiles, birds, eggs, and insects. They are active hunters and spend hours roaming their territory searching for prey. When prey is spotted, they will chase it down on foot and strike with powerful kicks from their thick, reptile-like legs.

Researchers believe this stunning kick can generate an incredible force of 5,000 newtons – enough to shatter heavy bones or instantly kill smaller prey (McGowan, 2019).

Secretary birds cooperative hunt in monogamous pairs and share feeding duties. They take turns scouting for prey and bringing food back to their mate. An intelligent, patient hunting style allows secretary birds to adapt to habitat changes and continue thriving while some other raptors decline.

Their varied diet provides nourishment and occupies different niches in the ecosystem.

The Structure and Purpose of Secretary Bird Lashes

Anatomy of the Feathers

The secretary bird has distinctive black feathers that resemble eyelashes around its eyes. These specialized feathers are actually made up of stiff bristles called rictal bristles. The shaft of each bristle is thick and rounded, giving it a sturdy structure to protect the bird’s eyes.

These unique feathers extend from above and below the eyes in a half-moon shape. There can be over 200 bristles total around each eye, forming a “eyeshadow” frame around the secretary bird’s piercing orange eyes.

Protection from Prey and Debris

The secretary bird’s eye frame serves multiple functions. Most importantly, the stiff rictal bristles protect the bird’s eyes when it is hunting or eating prey. Secretary birds stamp down on and consume animals whole, like snakes, lizards, and small mammals.

The bristles stop the prey from scratching or injuring the eyes during this violent process.

Additionally, when the secretary bird is soaring through grasslands and savannas at up to 20 miles per hour, the lashes prevent seeds or grass fragments from hitting its eyes. So the structure safeguards from environmental debris as well.

Difference Between Secretary Bird Lashes and True Eyelashes

Though often called “eyelashes,” the secretary bird’s rictal bristles are actually modified feathers. True eyelashes only grow from mammalian hair follicles, while feathers develop distinctly from epidermal cells in birds.

Eyelashes in mammals also have a more flexible shaft and lash structure than the secretary bird’s stiff, quill-like bristles.

So while the bristles framing a secretary bird’s intense gaze may resemble lashes, they serve a much more vital function than human eyelashes in safeguarding the bird during hunting and flight.

Comparison to Other Birds with Eyelash Features

Ostriches

Ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa that also have prominent eyelashes (Abdalla et al. 2022). Their lashes help protect their eyes from wind, sand, and debris while moving quickly across open terrain.

Ostriches have the longest eyelashes of any bird species, with lashes up to 8 inches long (Smithsonian 2022). Their lashes are stiff and evenly spaced, giving ostriches a unique “fluttering” appearance when running.

While secretary birds and ostriches share long lashes, ostriches lack the distinct mascara-like tips of secretary bird lashes.

Rheas

Rheas are large, flightless birds that live in South America. They have thick, dark eyelashes that also help protect their eyes (Lucas 2023). However, rhea lashes are much shorter and stubbier than secretary bird lashes.

Rheas have a double row of lashes on each eyelid, while secretary birds only have one row. Rheas’ lashes are evenly spaced, without the lengthened tips secretary birds display (Audubon 2023). So while rheas have notable lashes, they lack the secretary bird’s iconic lashes that resemble expertly applied mascara.

Cassowaries

Cassowaries are another group of large, flightless birds that inhabit New Guinea and northeastern Australia. They have a helmet-like crest on their heads and vivid blue skin on their necks. Cassowaries have been noted to have eyelashes, but they are quite short and not nearly as prominent as secretary birds (CSIRO 2022).

The cassowary lashes offer some eye protection in the rainforest but lack length and are not an iconic feature of the species like the secretary bird’s lashes.

Bustards

Bustards are a family of large terrestrial birds found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some bustard species have been documented to have eyelashes, but they are generally short and inconspicuous (BirdLife International 2022).

For example, the great bustard has small whitish lashes, while the little bustard has tiny black lashes. In comparison, secretary bird lashes are much more prominent in length, thickness, and striking color contrast.

So while a few other bird species have lashes, none compare to the secretary bird’s bold black mascara-esque lashes.

The Role of Lashes in Secretary Bird Appearance

Contribution to Striking Facial Disc

The secretary bird’s eyelashes play a key role in its distinctive facial disc, which consists of black feathers surrounding its eyes that contrast sharply with its mostly gray body plumage (similar to a pair of black horn-rimmed glasses!).

Its long eyelashes, which can measure over an inch, frame the facial disc strikingly.

Ornithologists believe the facial disc likely evolved to help secretary birds locate and capture prey across grasslands and savannas. By reducing glare from sunlight, the black feathers allow them to spot potential meal of snakes, lizards, small mammals, and insects more easily while soaring high above the ground [1].

The eyelashes further accentuate the disc for maximum prey detection.

Use in Courtship Displays

The secretary bird’s eyelashes also play a role in mating. During courtship, a male will spread his wings and fan his striking tail feathers while stamping his feet. He then bows forward to show off the eyelashes framing his facial disc to the female [2].

If she is suitably impressed, she may allow him to approach and mate with her.

Researchers have found a positive correlation between the length of a male secretary bird’s eyelashes and his mating success. Males with longer eyelashes tend to attract more females and have increased reproductive rates compared to those with shorter lashes.

This suggests lash length is under sexual selection pressure as an indicator of fitness in males [3].

Why the Secretary Bird Has Captivated Audiences

A Distinctive Profile in the Animal Kingdom

With its striking physical characteristics, the Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) stands out in the avian world. This large terrestrial bird of prey sports long crane-like legs that allow it to tower over the African grasslands at up to four feet tall.

Its most eye-catching features are its eponymous gray feathers that resemble the hairstyle of a secretary from the 19th century. When taking flight, the secretary bird reveals ostentatious black and white wing plumage.

Beyond aesthetics, the Secretary Bird wields formidable snake-hunting abilities. Using its vulture-like wingspan, the raptor circles high above the savanna seeking snake movement. Upon pinpointing prey, the Secretary Bird decisively stomps serpents to death with its thick kicks.

As stated on the San Diego Zoo website, “The long toes of a Secretary Bird have evolved for walking…but they make formidable weapons against soft-bodied prey like snakes.”

Significance in African Folklore and Culture

The distinctive secretary bird holds symbolic importance in African tribal folklore. For the San people of southern Africa, Secretary Birds represent divine messengers who can traverse between heaven and earth.

Stories depict Secretary Birds transporting San shamans into spiritual realms to access sacred knowledge from godly figures. This special status emerges from the bird’s ability to fly high in the skies despite spending much time pedestrianly roaming the grasslands.

Moreover, Secretary Birds historically adorned nobleman headdresses and coats of arms across Africa. The heraldic tradition highlighted the courage and strength embodied by this formidable raptor. Today, the Secretary Bird remains the national symbol of Sudan and features prominently on the South African coat of arms.

Conclusion

With its piercing eyes framed by long, alluring lashes, the secretary bird has an undeniably captivating appearance unlike any other bird. As we’ve explored, those lengthy feathers likely serve an important purpose for the secretary bird as it hunts prey across grasslands and savannas.

Yet while the lashes have a functional purpose, they have also contributed to making the secretary bird a creature of intrigue – inspiring African folktales and captivating audiences around the world.

So next time you see an image of a secretary bird, take a moment to appreciate both the uniqueness and utility of its eye-catching lashes.