Which bird kills snakes by stamping on them with its long legs?

The secretarybird kills snakes by stamping on them with its long, powerful legs.

The secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, is an African bird of prey unlike most raptors: it does much of its hunting on foot across open grassland and savanna. Its eagle-like body sits above unusually long legs, giving it the height and stride needed to spot and chase prey through vegetation.

When it attacks a snake, the bird may spread its wings for balance and repeatedly strike just behind the snake’s head. The blows can stun or kill the prey while keeping the bird’s body away from a dangerous bite. Secretarybirds also stamp on grass clumps to flush out lizards, insects, and other animals.

Its scientific name reflects this reputation: serpentarius comes from Latin words associated with snakes. The bird’s English name has a debated history, with explanations linking its crest feathers to a scribe’s quill pens or connecting the name with older terms for an archer. It is not a shoebill, ostrich, or cassowary; those birds may look imposing, but the secretarybird is the classic snake-stomping specialist.