In the heart of nature, various surprising animal encounters happen without humans ever knowing. Still, one such remarkable encounter happened to be recorded for the whole world to see – a tiny crab defeats a mighty bald eagle. Let’s dive into the world of eagles and discover how they survive in the wild, relying on their keen eyesight, piercing sharp talons and beak, as well as their incredible carnivorous instincts.
Eagle diversity
Eagles come in many different forms, ranging from the small South Nicobar serpent eagle weighing only 450 g to the largest of all, the giant Philippine eagle weighing up to 8 kg.
But one thing that binds these birds is their predatory instincts.
As seen in the video below, the bald eagle is characterized by a white head contrasting with a dark brown body, with sharp talons and a yellow break.
Habitat
The habitat of eagles ranges around all parts of the world, they can be found in tundras, rainforests, and desert biomes.
However, golden and bald eagles are very common in North America.
Breeding habits
The bald eagle mates for life, and a female eagle will lay between 1-3 eggs per year, which take approximately 35 days to hatch.
Once the chicks have hatched, the parents take turns to brood the hatchling for the first week.
After that, the male will forage and bring food for the female and the eaglets.
The eaglets only grow into striking appearance when they are around 4 or 5 years old until they have brown and mottled white feathers.
Diet
Eagles primarily feast on live prey, such as small mammals like rabbits, muskrats, and smaller birds.
They also feed on carrion.
The bald eagle is an opportunistic forager but prefers fish as their primary food source.
It is not unlikely for them to eat crabs and other marine creatures.
Crab Defeats Bald Eagle
In a video captured on YouTube, a lucky bystander captured an interesting encounter between a bald eagle and a crab.
The video shows the eagle bending to catch the crab in its beak, giving it some lee-way.
This enables the crab to use its pointy legs and pincers to take advantage of this unexpected attack.
Clearly in distress, the crab uses its legs to wriggle around and poke the poor eagle in the eye.
This discomfort experienced by the eagle leaves it flailing around in the water as it tries to get rid of the tiny crab crawling all over its face and head.
The video ends on a high note as the 2 parties part ways.
Eagle vs. Crab: Conclusion
It is a privilege to be allowed into the animal kingdom to witness such experiences.
It opens our eyes to things that are unseen and gives us a different perspective on the world around us.
I hope you enjoyed reading about this crabby encounter.
To read more articles like this one, check out the links below:
- Encounter the Largest Congregation of Eagles at the Chilkat River
- Eagle Flies Into a Man’s Car
- Man Saves Bald Eagle From Drowning In River and Wins His Trust, Canada
adventuring, photography and videography. I am currently working towards a BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology at Stellenbosch University to go on to specialise in Marine Sciences one day.
Please send any feedback to Feedback@animalsaroundtheglobe.com
- Bees Cannot Fly in The Dark - April 24, 2024
- Golden Retriever Meets Its Favorite Disney Character - April 24, 2024
- Maine Coon Cat Meets A Coyote Puppy - April 24, 2024