It's not just birds of a feather that flock together. A crow has been photographed hitching a very rare mid-flight lift on the back of a bald eagle.
The much larger bird of prey was hunting for a snack in the skies over Seabeck, Washington, when the cheeky crow spied an opportunity. The encounter lasted just a few seconds before the birds parted and went their separate ways.
The chance meeting was captured by amateur photographer Phoo Chan, 50.
'I was photographing a bald eagle flying around hunting for an early meal when suddenly the crow approached the eagle from behind,' he said.
'At first I thought the crow was going to chase away the eagle. 'I have seen crows harassing a hawk by swooping back and forth in order to drive it away from their territory. I was completely awed to see the crow actually land on the back of the flying eagle.
He added: 'It was as if it was taking a short break and at the same time a free ride. 'What's more surprising was the eagle didn't seem to mind and kept flying as if nothing happened.
'I think the crow decided to land on the eagle because the eagle did not respond to its harassment so it landed briefly and then left.
'Eventually the crow flew away and the eagle continued to hunt for its breakfast. They both flew in different directions and it looked like they became friends.'
The much larger bird of prey was hunting for a snack in the skies over Seabeck, Washington, when the cheeky crow spied an opportunity. The encounter lasted just a few seconds before the birds parted and went their separate ways.
The chance meeting was captured by amateur photographer Phoo Chan, 50.
'I was photographing a bald eagle flying around hunting for an early meal when suddenly the crow approached the eagle from behind,' he said.
'At first I thought the crow was going to chase away the eagle. 'I have seen crows harassing a hawk by swooping back and forth in order to drive it away from their territory. I was completely awed to see the crow actually land on the back of the flying eagle.
He added: 'It was as if it was taking a short break and at the same time a free ride. 'What's more surprising was the eagle didn't seem to mind and kept flying as if nothing happened.
'I think the crow decided to land on the eagle because the eagle did not respond to its harassment so it landed briefly and then left.
'Eventually the crow flew away and the eagle continued to hunt for its breakfast. They both flew in different directions and it looked like they became friends.'
Thank you White Wolf. You always great pictures and videos. Just wonderful.
Peace and Love
Amazing luck to be there to capture this extraordinary event.
Had the eagle barrel rolled the crow would have been dinner. But that's another story, for another time.
wonderful
I think he meant to say "I was completely cawed".
je sais que les corneilles chassent en criant les buses qui viennent prendre leurs petits dans les nids, alors c'est peut-être dans la même idée de défense...(du corbeau)..
Her In Sri Lanka, I have observed jackdaws chasing out sea eagles out of their territory. A second time I saw it from the beach where they would chase a sea eagle up to to 40 metres over the shore...not letting off. Also harassing monkeys that cross into their territory.