Alright, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be tempted by the idea of flying on the back of an eagle? It’s an enticing thought, and this intelligent crow seems to agree. The playful creature was observed happily hitching a free ride on a bald eagle’s back, and surprisingly, the eagle didn’t seem to mind at all.
Fortunately, skilled photographer Phoo Chan, based in California, was able to capture that extraordinary moment and share it with the entire world.
Elaborating on the crow’s peculiar behavior, biologist Kevin McGowan, an expert in crow behavior at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, explains that it is quite typical for territorial birds like crows to feel threatened and potentially exhibit extreme aggression when faced with a large intruder in their natural habitats. This reaction can be attributed to the “Napoleon Complex,” a theorized inferiority complex often associated with individuals of shorter stature.
Interestingly, the agitated crow seemed ready for a confrontation. However, upon smoothly landing on the larger bird, it appeared perplexed and unsure of its next move.
“This is somewhat akin to a dog chasing a car and leaping onto it,” remarks McGowan. “Dogs always have the desire to catch the car, but they never quite know what they would do if they succeeded.”
McGowan explains that the nonchalant response from the bald eagle is entirely reasonable as well. Being the largest predatory birds, eagles are frequently harassed by other birds, and they simply do not consider it a significant issue. As McGowan emphasizes, it seems to them as if they are “being followed by mosquitoes.”
However, Chan has a different perspective and doesn’t believe the crow was attempting to harass its “vehicle.”
“Crows are recognized for their aggressive behavior towards larger raptors that enter their territories, and typically these ‘intruders’ simply back off without much commotion,” explains the bird and nature photographer. “However, in this particular instance, the crow did not appear to harass the bald eagle at such a close distance, and the bald eagle didn’t seem to be bothered by the crow’s presence invading its personal space.”
“What made it even more unusual was that the crow even briefly perched on the back of the eagle, as if enjoying a free scenic ride, and the eagle didn’t seem to mind,” he continues.
Feel free to share these entertaining photos with your friends and family!
Rewritten Source: https://aubtu.biz/37453/