Mid-air crow-lision

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.'

Unsurprisingly, the amazing sequence of photos is attracting envy from other photographers.  

Phoo says: 'When people see my photos they say "wow" and ask how I was able to capture the images that happen so fast.

'You have to be in the right place at the right time when it happens.' 

Bald eagles can be found in North America, usually near large areas of open water.

They are opportunistic feeders who swoop down to grab their prey in their talons.

There is no real difference in the plumage between male and female bald eagles - their heads and tails are white and their body is brown. But females are 25 per cent larger than males.

(dailymail.co.uk)