Such a pretty bird can surely makes our day.
There are about 9,000 to 10,000 species of birds around the world according to bird watchers and scientists. You can spot them by physical appearance when you take a closer look. There are birds with many shapes and colors, and a few are absolutely stunning. Some birds have weird names and monikers and some of them are not named for what their silly names depict.
Here’s a story about some 4-feet-tall birds named secretary birds that have long, beautiful and luxurious lashes.
This bird looks like secretaries at corporate offices when put in a red dress. It also has those eyelashes human women go to great lengths to achieve.
The bird was first named in 1769. The Dutch settlers in Africa called the bird “Sagittarius.” Local farmers called them “Secretarius” due to their lack of knowledge and strong accent. And later it morphed into secretary.
They are used to prowl among the grasses and stomp their prey to death before feasting. Snakes and other small prey living in the savanna grasses are their most common food source. Some people have seen the birds take down juvenile cheetahs and gazelles, too. Currently conservation efforts are proceeding to slow the decline in population as they are threatened by habitat loss.
h/t: Scientific American, Journal of African Ornithology