Which raptor is the only living member of the bird family Sagittariidae?

The secretarybird is the only living member of the bird family Sagittariidae.

Unlike most birds of prey, it spends much of its time walking across open grassland rather than hunting from the air. Its long legs let it stride through savanna, where it searches for insects, lizards, snakes, and small mammals.

The secretarybird often kills prey by stamping rapidly with its powerful feet. This behavior is especially useful against snakes, although snakes are only part of its varied diet. Its crest of long feathers and crane-like profile make it one of Africa’s most distinctive raptors.

The species is placed in its own family and order, reflecting its unusual combination of raptorial feet, terrestrial behavior, and long-legged body shape. It is found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, usually in open habitats with scattered trees.