Sunday

This tiny starling didn't stand a chance after a hungry bald eagle chose it as a mid-air snack.

This incredible sequence of pictures shows the enormous bird of prey closing in on its target.

The defenceless starling flies on, apparently unaware of the eagle behind it.

But within seconds the eagle is so close its beak almost grazes the tail of the tiny bird.

In one swift moment, the hunter's razor-sharp claws have closed around its prey.

Photographer Rob Palmer captured these incredible pictures in Colorado, U.S.

The 56-year-old, from Littleton, said: 'I noticed a group of eagles sitting in the trees and then I spotted they were catching the starlings and blackbirds.


'It went on for a number of days. The starlings would launch out of the yard and into the air as one.

'Two or three eagles would then start to pursue. It seemed as if the starlings had been hypnotised because they acted as if they were not being chased.

'Over ten days I saw at least 50 starlings getting caught and eaten by various eagles. It would happen anywhere from 100 to 500ft in the air.


'It was an awesome and inspiring thing to witness.

'As a photographer, you only dream of seeing wild instances like this and I took advantage of the situation. I have not witnessed anything like this since then.'

The bald eagle, native to North America, can grow up to 3ft long and has a wingspan of 8ft.


The bird of prey eats mostly fish, but is known to be an opportunistic feeder - eating anything from small mammals like rabbits to larger prey like the Great Blue Heron.

Its talons are so powerful it has even been known to carry off deer fawns weighing around 15 pounds.

Bald eagles can reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour and are able to dive for fish at an incredible 99 miles per hour.
Source


Responses to "Bald eagle chases down and catches a starling in mid-air (Photos)"

  1. Anonymous says:

    SO SAD, I LOVE ALL BIRDS, AND I REALIZE THEY HAVE TO EAT, BUT ALWAYS SO SAD TO SEE SUCH BEAUTY BEING SAUGHT AFTER BY ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BIRD.

  2. Morgana says:

    This "Nature's Law" is something that always makes me feel sad.

  3. Henry T says:

    Food chain

  4. Anonymous says:

    Starlings aren't native, cause spread of salmonella. Go get em!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Agree with Morgana, but that's Nature...

  6. Anonymous says:

    Starlings are non native (brought over from Europe long, long time ago) they are invasive, aggressive, obnoxious birds. Thank God for eagles!

  7. Unknown says:

    never fails me be a amused how large and powerful and eagle is! Love them!

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