This Bird Kicks Snakes with Five Times Its Own Body Weight

Quick Take

• Secretary birds hunt snakes differently from other raptors, and that difference is what makes them nearly impossible to defend against. See their fighting style →
• There's one specific target a secretary bird locks onto during an attack, and hitting it turns a deadly fight into a one-sided victory. Discover the target method →
• The force behind a secretary bird's attack defies what its frame suggests is possible, a quality that separates this bird from every other predator its size. Explore the kick force →

Nature is full of different rivals and enemies. These conflicts often result in unique ways for animals to fight one another. An example is the secretary bird, which uses its long legs and sharp talons to fight snakes on the ground. This YouTube video by Wild Animals TV shows one of these fights happening, and the bird looks more like Bruce Lee than anything. Read here to learn more about how secretary birds fight.

How Secretary Birds Fight

The video above shows a cobra and a secretary bird encountering each other. Although the video appears to be filmed in a more enclosed environment, such encounters are common in the wild. These birds inhabit grasslands and savannas throughout sub-Saharan Africa, sharing environments with snakes. To help defend themselves, secretary birds use their long legs and sharp talons to ward off potential predators. This special fighting style is the result of hundreds of years of evolution, and secretary birds are certainly masters of their craft. Since cobras are famous for their impressive striking distance, the birds jump around nimbly to avoid being bitten. When the time is right, they use their powerful legs to launch an attack.

To attack, the birds use their long legs to their advantage. Rather than grabbing at prey like hawks and eagles do, they specifically kick their prey. Using a powerful stomp, they kick downwards at incredible speeds. These kicks deliver around 195 newtons of force—roughly five times the bird’s own weight. When aimed correctly, secretary birds can target the snake’s head to immobilize and paralyze it. This extreme control makes them fearsome, often taking out their prey before it can deliver a venomous bite. Secretary birds are highly skilled hunters, capable of fending off some of the most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom.