Eagle Takes Down Great Blue Heron

Video taken at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
After killing the juvenile heron, the eagle (presumably the female) plucked all of the large feathers off and then dragged it up onto the grassy area you can see above where they are in the video. She ate some of it and then the other eagle (presumably the male, since he was smaller), ate some as well.
Video: Blake Bryant
Edit / stabilization: Adrian Bardue

[@ehe1455]

I came here for the justice of those ducklings

[@michigansanimals9341]

And 2 days before the eagle ate some ducklings

[@ulradeja5380]

I came here for the justice of those who has been killed by the oppressors

[@michigansanimals9341]

@@ulradeja5380 uh what?

[@davidv7757]

LMFAO

[@ulradeja5380]

Justice just been served

[@diddy103177]

Those talons are a game changer. It’s hard for us to truly grasp just how powerful those talons are, and just how much they make a difference in animal encounters.

[@skyarcher9692]

Stronger then the jaws of the largest dogs.

[@DDD-wt7ly]

Like guided blades straight into the arteries and throat

[@isolinear9836]

True. Though the Heron's beak was nothing to sniff at. Heron and Egrets literally impale fish while hunting. Even if his beak doesn't impale the Bald Eagle, a direct hit is definitely enough to break bone or maim a Bald Eagle that isn't actively dodging. And in the wild, a wounded Eagle, is probably a dead Eagle.

[@trevormynatt3466]

When their feathers are wet though, they expend energy way faster, luckily their kn shallow water otherwise the eagle would be in danger as wet feathers wont fly

[@jerryamescua]

Yeah one grab and it was over in a second. Nuts

[@inko_lor]

The confidence of that eagle is terrifying.

[@nuffflavor]

After all the Heron swallowing other animal videos...... I finally feel better watching this one.

[@gilvanavila3925]

HahahahahahahahHa same here

[@aik_sai_gaming]

Agree

[@bassmasta93]

Bald eagles are beasts! You see the large herons just dominate most of the time , but no match for the bald eagle.

[@dancasey9660]

The hunter becomes the hunted!

[@Roxburysfinest]

Same thing I said after watching the heron swallow a baby duck

[@jerryamescua]

Damn one grab with those talons ended it in a second.

[@Darkasknightfall]

The eagle just saved hundreds of ducklings

[@vigilante9901]

Brilliant!

[@krns1695]

that he ate later?

[@Ssssssnakeisone]

A little help over here, Larry?

[@Loachie90]

Forget it, I don’t have benefits man.

[@liberatetutemeexinferis5902]

Nah, you need the training anyway.

[@AlanSanchez-ww9qb]

That Eagle said..... "Enough of playing around in the water, I'm just going to drown you, and end this quickly."

[@driller524]

The other eagle is just there to make sure no other herons try to jump in.

[@JesseDishner]

Exceptional comment. Very good.

[@Raison_d-etre]

@@JesseDishner Really, exceptional? LOL.

[@channyaplim972]

Like a good wingman.

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

Yeah it was a head up fade on the set blooood

[@Bvsterrrrrrrrr]

That’s his wife. Eagle are monogamous for life.

[@Gabriel-zy7ee]

Dang, a fight in between two apex predators in the same range.

[@maximillionroivas3893]

Bald Eagles are more than just fish eaters and scavengers. They're also active predators that prey on a large variety of animals. From snakes, rodents, birds (as we see here), deers to even domestic pets (dogs and cats) and sometimes they'll even attack wolves.

[@isolinear9836]

And this face-off is as much about competition between predators, as it is about the food itself. Most of the time, they chase other predators away - and in rare cases where they catch an interloper, it's a duel. Certainly, the Heron's beak is dangerous. Heron and Egrets will literally impale fish and mammals when hunting. Even if his beak doesn't impale the Bald Eagle, a direct hit is definitely enough to break bones or maim the Bald Eagle if it's not dodging properly. And in the wild, a wounded Eagle, is probably a dead Eagle. The problem for the Heron, however, is that the Bald Eagle is MUCH more agile in the air and the water. You can see that the Eagle can take flight right out of the water in an instant - the Heron can't do this nearly as quickly - and in a flight or flight contest, the Heron will lose, meaning it CAN'T escape the Eagle. So the Heron MUST fight - its attack range, its beak is longer than the Eagle's, and technically more powerful, so this isn't a cakewalk for the Eagle - it's NOT a [Spider vs Fly] situation - far from it. [Bald Eagle vs Heron] is more along the lines of [Lion vs Water Buffalo], or [Mongoose vs Cobra Snake]. The latter can certainly win - and sometimes does - BUT the former has distinct advantages and wins more often. The Heron is at a big disadvantage, because its beak-thrust at the Eagle requires the Heron to rear back and "load" its head backwards before it strikes. This telegraphs the strikes early - its slow and easy for the Eagle to read and dodge....and eventually the Eagle "times" the Heron's strikes perfectly in order to instantly take flight and attack the Heron from "above". The Heron can't really strike effectively "up", because it can't crouch "down" into the water (the water doesn't provide enough "resistance" or "footing" downwards to counteract the "loading motion" for a reverse strike "upwards"), and the Eagle easily wins once it drops into close range, assisted by gravity (Like a Spear, the Heron's beak is useless once an attacker gets in close). Ultimately, the Heron is like a military "Bomber" in the wilds - Big, lumbering, but can pack enormous firepower; that beak is dangerous to mammals and humans many times its size and weight. The Bald Eagle is the "Fighter" - Agile, fast, and trades firepower for pinpoint lethality; Eagle talons don't carry the same amount of brute Physical Force as a Heron's heavy, relatively blunt (though still pretty sharp) and powerful beak. But the talons are much sharper; they don't need as much raw Force to kill their opponents. And like the Eagle vs Heron, a Jet Fighter is perfectly suited to take down a Jet Bomber, and the preferred Fighter tactic is to get "above" the Bomber, and just drop down right on top of it.

[@jimmyolsen5897]

And foxes and coyotes

[@wecountingmoneyoverhere2517]

The Real American Bully

[@paulg444]

they will not attack a wolf.

[@jimmyolsen5897]

@@paulg444 how do you know

[@titaniumsandwedge]

Huge talons beat large beak. Food prep on the Heron must be a pain with all its feathers.

[@THall-vi8cp]

The heron had better reach, but once the eagle got hold of it, it was over.

[@ayo30s]

Lol, Right, 👍🏾👊🏾✌🏾🇳🇬🇺🇸

[@user_sdkdbijqlketg]

And The speed fo heron's beak can't sting the eagle because of eagles' agility.

[@Buggsy61]

Male Eagle: "Is my lunch ready yet bitch?"

[@kayamananhunter]

The eagle said, I warned you heron this is my fishing spot. I have been having a hard time getting fish here bacause of you. You make me starve now I am eating you.

[@henrry889]

LOL

[@Roadrage-oq5js]

If I was that heron, I would have told that eagle, "Listen, I know where there's a shit ton of Canada geese. Lemme go and I'll show you".

[@mikec1865]

No, Heron are Ruthless, check video of them eating Duckling than the MoMA duck.

[@conorsirishnature998]

Both birds are just part of the bird food chain. Eagles on top, then herons then ducks. Also eagles will eat ducks and ducklings whenever the chance to do so arises

[@akafxde7245]

@@conorsirishnature998 eagles will literally eat anything they can kill, even a deer, they might not be able to fly away with it but they would definitely kill it.

[@daviazevedomelo4847]

Duckling: Touché 🗡

[@lil1ice186]

After heroin eats that poor duckling alive. Eagle gets revange for the little duckling and kills the heroin.

[@dudewhat4813]

Lol I've seen eagles eat ducklings too

[@michigansanimals9341]

The eagle also eats the ducklings

[@mathijsbeenhakker8750]

Heroin will eat everyone alive

[@chrys_stone8716]

@@mathijsbeenhakker8750 heroin is a helluva drug ! Lol

[@yaboi156]

Revange? Heroin? 🤦‍♂️

[@movedbythespirit9659]

I just love how Eagles fight ALONE while the mate just watches. Only the 2 you never see three company!

[@robertpoole9136]

Revenge of the ducklings!

[@Christin5554]

amazing footage. I would have never thought that a eagle would take on that size of a bird.

[@caspeansea9179]

They have been recorded to take on mountain goats and in mountains area of Monggolia and Tibet they were used to hunt wolves. What were you talking about.? Heron is just a piece of cake for them.

[@ayo30s]

Wow!!! Really??? They do a lot of damage to animals many times their size, 👍🏾👊🏾✌🏾🇳🇬🇺🇸

[@karlmeadows4986]

Seen them take out goats

[@The_philosophical_cockroach]

The eagles actually bigger than the heron. Herons are seen as big because of their long legs, but in reality they are much lighter than eagles.

[@The_philosophical_cockroach]

Herons at the same weight as eagles like the Goliath heron scare away eagles because of its power

[@bassmasta93]

Damn that’s awsome , where was this filmed ?

[@koffiekaart1]

What happened next!? They fall to the ground?

[@christianflores2463]

For the baby ducklings 🐣

[@maddogmcclane4918]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hai4n6iEptidodE

[@chateaupig826]

Fantastic footage -that heron was fighting for his life

[@coolcat5714]

He lost

[@morten8586]

it was a 2 vs 1 thats why he searched in the water for protection to be able to fight against 2 but it turned out to be even better for the eagle coz he can drown him easy while on land the heron could stick back hardly

[@814genetics5]

So confident that the other eagle fell back and let his buddy get the kill solo!!

[@temuulmunkhtur]

had to balance it out by watching this after watching all those gophers get eaten by heron lol

[@magicwand6746]

So now how will you take it home to the chicks in da nest ?

[@battmann678]

Boy, after watching this, now I have a taste for Blue Heron...

[@danieltossounian1962]

People are just joking and giving attention to their feelings…they know it’s nature and d don’t need your lectures

[@luiscrespo1165]

Thanks for the help Todd.

[@vk2ig]

That eagle inflicted GBH on that GBH!

[@wesgilmer5391]

Was this a display catch for a mating ritual?

[@dhananjaysawant4646]

The eagle probably ate the heron because the heron was only a juvenile and there were many adult eagles trying to hunt it

[@raymondcook8364]

Wow is the only word that comes to mind.

[@JRS-iq9pz]

Eagles didn't like him at they're fishing spot. He should have left.

[@paulg444]

I think you are spot on !!!

[@vk2ig]

@@paulg444 They're fishing spot = they are fishing spot. 😁

[@SuperKingbunny]

Wow was that eagle actually swimming too

[@davescopes249]

So grey is also blue is it. Great footage 👍

[@Susyownsyou]

That heron came to the wrong neighborhood...

[@GazAce]

His mate on the beach there.. "will you hurry up, I'm gonna miss the game"

[@dundeeecroc]

Keeping other birds that eat their fish away and gone from their territory. BTW that was a full grown Heron.

[@kayamananhunter]

The other eagle is just a look out making sure no other heron are going to help.

[@shawnkincheloesr5192]

Wow ! Those Eagles are something else when it comes to grabbing their prey 😳

[@younicbic]

It looks so easy for Eagles to kill preys by their claws, how strong they must be

[@crazyfx5242]

Good job eagle! Still bizarre tho how that eagle is small vs the heron.. But, I've seen them take down goats etc.. Very strong birds of prey.. They can even take a baby ( Human ).

[@onelife527]

Honey, because this is eagle

[@lamaspacos]

MANY THANKS.

[@kenweis7913]

Other eagle: I'll just wait

[@fugitive011]

Take the wings away and we are watching 2 dinosaurs fight.

[@dizzywehby3442]

Great video

[@Andonirubik]

I've seen falcons (Falco rusticolus) hunting cranes ten times bigger... And Accipiter nisus and A. Gentilis also involved in others kamikaze huntings...

[@gunlokman]

Hunting eagle to other eagle "well don't just stand there . . . give us a hand here"!

[@fydira3492]

Eagle saved the suicidal heron from trying to drown itself

[@mathewkamei3]

The Heron think it was a duckling 😂

[@eddiemanuel3946]

No Trespassing on my land you've been warned Great Blue Heron other on just waits for his/her buddy.

[@alejandrotelarroja119]

*applause*👏 👏

[@Scratch2024]

Love watching herons get killed by anything!!!!!

[@kuleecigal265]

Because herons are ruthless baby killers!

[@kuleecigal265]

Chicken nuggets are made from adult chickens not babies!

[@kuleecigal265]

Oh, really, well what part of the baby chicks are they made?

[@lukeyyt7026]

Same

[@davidandrew6347]

Grow up

[@vigilante9901]

Great! That heron won't subject any more defenceless baby birds or any other small animal to a horrific death! ✊

[@unusualvideos8269]

That was more of a Godzilla Vs King Gidorah

[@trvth1s]

In the beginning you see that the 2 eagles were chasing the haron, likely harassing them. Numbers.

[@suekennedy8917]

Sweet! Nice to see a heron getting eaten.

[@vigilante9901]

Yep, they are a terrible evil animal

[@xxmelotaplaysxx7682]

It's crazy how vulture and eagles and hawks always r matched with heron egret storks but this is crazy that eagle did get lucky because I did see videos and real live vids of heron killing eagle and its crazy because they both fight for territory

[@mclovin9151]

Eagles are ruthless

[@GORT70]

Heron put up a good fight......but since herons are raging bullies....

[@JumpJeho]

Imagine if eagles were twice as big with ravenous appetites for human flesh...and were as numerous as crows. Hell yeah!

[@churnyeechong2427]

Why can't the heron just peck at the eagle? It has a long and sharp bill

[@isolinear9836]

Certainly, the Heron's beak is dangerous. Heron and Egrets will literally impale fish and mammals when hunting. Even if his beak doesn't impale the Bald Eagle, a direct hit is definitely enough to break bones or maim the Bald Eagle if it's not dodging properly. And in the wild, a wounded Eagle, is probably a dead Eagle. The problem for the Heron, however, is that the Bald Eagle is MUCH more agile in the air and the water. You can see that the Eagle can take flight right out of the water in an instant - the Heron can't do this nearly as quickly - and in a flight or flight contest, the Heron will lose, meaning it CAN'T escape the Eagle. So the Heron MUST fight - its attack range, its beak is longer than the Eagle's, and technically more powerful, so this isn't a cakewalk for the Eagle - it's NOT a [Spider vs Fly] situation - far from it. [Bald Eagle vs Heron] is more along the lines of [Lion vs Water Buffalo], or [Mongoose vs Cobra Snake]. The latter can certainly win - and sometimes does - BUT the former has distinct advantages and wins more often. The Heron is at a big disadvantage, because its beak-thrust at the Eagle requires the Heron to rear back and "load" its head backwards before it strikes. This telegraphs the strikes early - its slow and easy for the Eagle to read and dodge....and eventually the Eagle "times" the Heron's strikes perfectly in order to instantly take flight and attack the Heron from "above". The Heron can't really strike effectively "up", because it can't crouch "down" into the water (the water doesn't provide enough "resistance" or "footing" downwards to counteract the "loading motion" for a reverse strike "upwards"), and the Eagle easily wins once it drops into close range, assisted by gravity (Like a Spear, the Heron's beak is useless once an attacker gets in close). Ultimately, the Heron is like a military "Bomber" in the wilds - Big, lumbering, but can pack enormous firepower; that beak is dangerous to mammals and humans many times its size and weight. The Bald Eagle is the "Fighter" - Agile, fast, and trades firepower for pinpoint lethality; Eagle talons don't carry the same amount of brute Physical Force as a Heron's heavy, relatively blunt (though still pretty sharp) and powerful beak. But the talons are much sharper; they don't need as much raw Force to kill their opponents. And like the Eagle vs Heron, a Jet Fighter is perfectly suited to take down a Jet Bomber, and the preferred Fighter tactic is to get "above" the Bomber, and just drop down right on top of it.

[@fahoodie1852]

If you look closely you’ll realise the heron is attacking the eagle, it just kept its distance before overpowering the bird

[@ChronicDreamer1st]

Really good to see a Heron dying ☺️

[@theressamurphy2996]

Never seen this before. We have great blue herons and eagles. Eagles were hungry I suppose.

[@trevormynatt3466]

The other eagle isnt even worried for his homie. Eagles are in danger when they get wet and run out of energy too.

[@ameliamasdukihasanhasan4033]

Alhamdulillah ! Because of you tube , I know Animal wild . It's really too Cute . For relief kind of stress

[@PuertoRicoBoxing]

Good job.

[@coolcat5714]

That herons gopher eating days are over …

[@rahiemthomas5617]

Personally, I never knew eagles will eat a heron.

[@stevephillips3541]

Hey, A Little Help here ?!

[@ObsessedCollector]

America! F**k yeah!

[@paulg444]

hard to understand why a bald eagle would go after that heron when fish are so plentiful.

[@mtnbikr107]

Impressive!

[@MickDarkHorrorSeries]

Zoom was broken that day

[@bababooeyb1494]

Naruto vs Pain moment after Jiriya's(duckling) death

[@chipogglesby6055]

It's OK honey i got this , you just sit on the rocks and chill.

[@dsaturdayfwight7516]

And the second eagle didnt even think it was worth his/her tyme lkl

[@exessex3522]

Birds are very vulnerable to being grabbed by the neck. Herons have plenty of neck to attack and no defence against eagles' talons or mammalian predators' teeth.

[@rafaelantoniochaparroariza4386]

Esas aguilas atacan en pareja

[@gerardog2663]

The food chain. KFH Kentucky Fried Heron.

[@OPTIONALWATCH]

Great to see a blue heron getting pummeled for a change. Too many uploads of herons eating poor little ducklings and gophers. 😁

[@The_philosophical_cockroach]

Why didn't the hair and lunch to attack when the eagle was passing on him? Honestly it's more of a skill issue than who's better as a species. An experienced heron would inpale an eagle.

[@Wowalkinparis]

Oh poor Blue Heron thank you for the share

[@vigilante9901]

Better the damn heron than any poor small animals it would have gone on to swallow alive

[@Mr.Classic287]

I came here after I saw a video of herons eating baby ducklings

[@antonioammendola4024]

Aquila regina dei cieli

[@MickyTubbs1985]

With apologies to Etta James (Got cha) "AT LAST."

[@mastain8227]

Sadis...

[@dougmarlow9466]

Blue herons kill alot of small wildlife so no great loss in this vid, that's nature.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

Bald eagles kill a lot of small wildlife as well. They are big apex predators after all.

[@fishersib7807]

два хищника,но я рад что орел справился с этой цаплей

[@ironmanreb4179]

Wow ang galing po

[@googalacticgoo]

Looks like eagle drowns heron

[@tomwilliams6114]

War damn eagle!

[@andyman8630]

honey!! lunch is served!

[@champv6129]

Eagles saying how about a little help here?

[@endy2149]

El Heron suelen asesinar liebres, ardillas y aves más pequeñas y ahora le toco encontrarse con una ave rapaz, como dicen "todo da vueltas" Bien por el águila 💪

[@jlover2769]

I'm Glad the Other Eagle just let them shoot the 1... Best bird Win