Bald Eagle - Eastern Kingbird symbiosis.

[Colin Key]

These photos of an Eastern Kingbird apparently eating parasites (fleas or mites) off a Bald Eagle in flight are quite remarkable; the link is to a thread on DPReview: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=28374673

Colin :cool:

[Odonate]

Are they real??? :err:

[Colin Key]

When I first saw these I certainly thought the first two shots were done in Photoshop, although the third one looks rather more "real". If you read through all the posts in that thread then yes, I reckon these are real and the photographer is not "pulling a fast one".

One of the respondents linked to this photo of an Eastern Kingbird on the head of a Crested Caracara:

http://www.pbase.com/mlndsy/image/87909739


Colin

[Richard Guthrie]

Eastern Kingbirds are VERY aggressive (hence the name, Kingbird, and scientific name: Tyrannus tyrannus; and the family name Tyrant Flycatchers). The pictured one is probably reacting to a Bale Eagle which apparently strayed too close to the kingbird's nest.

I've seen the same reaction involving an Eastern Kingbird vs. a Red-tailed Hawk. I was in a high level meeting on the upper story of an office building when the pair flew by. We all had eye-level seats as the kingbird repeatedly dove at and landing on the nape of the hawk. I couldn't resist pointing the drama out to the participants. I know that they all enjoyed the distraction - especially since the Commissioner took obvious delight in witnessing the whole event!

[MichaelF]

Mobbing certainly sounds more likely than going for parasites. Interesting in the first pic showing its red crown patch, which suggests a high level of rage / excitement; don't think it would do that just for feeding.