Secretary birds are large terrestrial birds of prey that are found across sub-Saharan Africa. They get their name from their distinctive feather crest on the back of their heads that resembles the old hairstyle worn by secretaries. Secretary birds are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. During the breeding season, secretary birds go through elaborate courtship rituals to attract and bond with a mate.
Physical Attributes
Secretary birds have several physical features that make them attractive to potential mates. Their most distinctive feature is the crest of long quill-like feathers on the back of their heads. This crest can be raised into a fan shape during courtship displays. The crest is black with some white feathers at the base. Secretary birds also have long eyelashes, which frame their striking orange eyes. Their other feathers are shades of grey and black. They have very long legs and toes which are visible during courtship dances. Males tend to be slightly larger than females.
Courtship Displays
Secretary birds perform elaborate courtship dances and displays to show off their desirable attributes to potential mates. These courtship rituals serve to demonstrate their fitness, strength, and suitability as a mate. Displays often take place at dawn and dusk on open grasslands where secretary birds nest.
Some key courtship behaviors include:
- Aerial displays – Males will fly in wide circles at a high altitude with slow, rhythmic flapping to showcase their strong flight abilities.
- Crest raising – Both males and females will fan and raise the crest on their heads, sometimes opening their wings at the same time. This highlights the dramatic crest.
- Prancing – High stepping and running while rapidly opening and closing the wings. This shows off fast footwork and agility.
- Dancing – Hopping and prancing from foot to foot while waving and bowing the head. Combines agility and grace.
- Parading – Males will walk alongside the female with an exaggerated strut to show confidence.
- Nest showing – Males lead females to potential nesting sites to demonstrate nest-building skills.
These elaborate dances are usually performed by both males and females during courtship. Females assess male displays to select the highest quality mate.
Vocalizations
Secretary birds are mostly silent but they do make some vocalizations mostly during courtship. Both males and females may make low-pitched grunts or groans during courtship displays. Contact calls help pairs stay in touch and coordinate their elaborate dances. Females may make begging calls to solicit food from males to assess their willingness to provide.
Nest Building
Another way secretary birds showcase their mate quality is through building a sturdy nest. The male will construct the nest out of sticks, vegetation, and dung over the course of several weeks in an acacia tree or bush. The nest platform can be 6 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Males that are able to build a large, durable nest demonstrate their nesting capabilities to visiting females. Females will observe nest construction and may visit multiple nests before choosing a mate.
Feeding
Secretary birds are carnivores that feed mostly on small mammals and reptiles. A male secretary bird may present a female with food as a courtship gift to display his hunting prowess and ability to provide sustenance. The female will observe the male’s hunting abilities to assess his suitability as a mate.
Monogamy
Once a pair bond has formed after courtship, secretary birds are monogamous. They will stay faithfully paired for life, or until one mate dies. They continue to reinforce their bond through vocalizations, mutual preening, and nearby perching and roosting. Both parents share incubation duties and later both feed and care for the chicks together. This long-term commitment helps ensure their offspring are well cared for.
Courtship Season
The secretary bird courtship and breeding season varies across their African range based on local environmental conditions. Courtship generally takes place during the dry season which allows for more frequent displays on open grasslands. In southern Africa, the courtship season typically runs from May to October. Further north, it shifts to run from November to July, corresponding to dry periods. Pairs can reproduce every 1-2 years.
Southern Africa Breeding Season
- May – Courtship displays intensify, males fight for territories
- June-July – Females visit multiple nests, pairs form
- August – Females lay 1-3 eggs in a well-made nest
- September-October – Eggs hatch after ~45 days of incubation
East Africa Breeding Season
- November – Courtship displays begin, nest repair starts
- December – Female begins visiting nests
- January-February – Eggs laid, incubation starts
- March – Secretary bird chicks hatch
Signals of Mate Quality
When searching for a mate, secretary birds are looking for signals that the other bird will be a good partner and parent. Some key traits that birds look for include:
- Large body size – A larger male shows strength and health
- Bright feather plumage – Indicates fitness and vitality
- Lengthy, vigorous displays – Demonstrate stamina and coordination
- Well-constructed nest – Shows nest-building skill
- Food offering – Provides evidence he can supply resources
- Compatibility of displays – Coordination demonstrates pair suitability
Females are choosy and will reject males that fail to display these qualities to her satisfaction. Males must prove themselves worthy to breed.
Rejected Suitors
When a male’s courtship displays fail to impress a female, she has several options to reject his advances:
- Fly away – She can abruptly fly off in the middle of the male’s display
- Look away – She can deliberately turn her back or look away to show disinterest
- Walk away – She might walk away from the displaying male
- Aggressive posture – She may hold her wings out or point her beak down to signal irritation
- Attack – A highly unsuitable male may be chased or have dirt kicked at him
- Ignore – She may act indifferent and not engage with the male at all
Persistently undesirable males may not get to mate that breeding season. However, they may have better luck attracting a different female the next year if they can improve their display performance.
Conclusion
Secretary birds have evolved specialized courtship rituals for attracting mates and signaling their suitability as partners. Their elaborate dances, vocalizations, and nest construction allow males and females to thoroughly assess each other for reproduction compatibility and parental skills. These courtship processes help maximize their breeding success in the grasslands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. The bond formed between mates will continue long after courtship is over as secretary birds loyally raise offspring together. Their intricate displays and picky mate choices are keys to their continued success as a species.
