Posted on 11/02/2020 8:51:02 AM PST by Red Badger
(Courtesy of Bill Combs Jr.)
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It’s a scientific fact. Just like some people who lack the means to get from place to place on their own, relying on others for rides, hitchhikers exist in the animal kingdom too.
There’s the ray-finned remora fish—also called the “sucker fish” because of its suction cup dorsal fin—specifically adapted to latch onto sharks, to ride and feed in a symbiotic relationship.
Less well documented is the small Egyptian plover bird, or crocodile bird, which is rumored to perilously clean the reptile’s teeth by feeding on decaying scraps of meat inside its mouth.
A bird riding aloft another, larger bird though?
That’s hardly a common, or expected, sight. But a wildlife photographer based in upstate New York saw just that, and captured the moment vividly on camera.
(Courtesy of Bill Combs Jr.)
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On July 9, local nature photographer Bill Combs Jr. posted on Facebook photos he took of a red-winged blackbird making a mid-air landing on a bald eagle that would make Top Gun’s Maverick look like child’s play. The aerial acrobatics occurred over Cobleskill Reservoir in Schoharie County.
The bald eagle was flying over the water clutching a fish it caught in its talons.
Then the red-winged blackbird appeared from above and landed on the airborne eagle.
A stunning display.
Super cool!
Freeloaders everywhere.
Blackbird=Black voters wearing Trump hats joining America=Eagle and headed toward prosperity=fish dinner
the song, Hitchin’ a Ride by Vanity Fair comes to my mind... remember that song? such a happy song...
Looks like the eagle is banded.
I wonder though, was the blackbird actually hitching a ride, or was it attacking the eagle?
Blackbird 1: “Have you ever been Eagle Surfing?”
Blackbird 2: “Eagle Surfing? What’s that?”
Blackbird 1: “Hold muh beer and watch this!”
They do it all the time. The red winged black bird is not trying to get a ride. He is harassing the eagle who must be close to the nest. Hawks, Eagles, golfers, Foxes all get attacked by these things. The eagle is powerless. If it could climb higher than the black bird the little bird may be in trouble. But because the little bird is higher and behind the eagle, the eagle can’t really defend itself. I live in a place with eagles and red winged black birds and this is a common site in the late spring.
I have frequently watched protective RWBs physically “whack” raptors while trying to shoo them away, but I have never seen one actually dig in and hitch a ride.
Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.
The eagle appears to have another blackbird in its talons.
I have the 45!.........................
“Home, James”
Haha! Good picture!
It lacks context. That’s a territorial attacking behavior. There’s probably another Red-winged Blackbird following closely behind. That Bald Eagle got too close to their nesting territory.
Lots of birds do it. Once saw an American Crow being attacked in the name manner by an American Kestrel which was in turn being attacked by a Red-winged Blackbird. Too bad I did not have a camera at the time!
Note the Bald Eagle has a band on it’s right leg.
I saw that too.
Looks like a fish based on the fins.
Cojones grandes, widdle birdie, cojones grandes.
Or fish... looks like the fish’s tail in your picture.
Yes, I think the eagle is being mobbed, something every bird of prey has to deal with.
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