Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Secretary bird-an elegant fashion model

Recently listed as endangered. Early morning golden light in the Mara with dew on the grass. Interestingly, the blueish reflection off the bird's eye comes from "the 'nictitating membrane' as a see through translucent 'third eyelid' that closes sideways ('Bird's-Eye Views' by naturalist Elliott Coues, 1898)".

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
Camera: NIKON D5
Copyright: © kb chandrasekar