Watch This Territorial Swan Charge Head-First at an Eagle Floating on Its Pond

White-tailed eagles are magnificent birds of prey and are very large. There are very few birds that could take them on let alone get the better of them. However, as we see in this clip, the swan is one of those birds! In this sequence we see an eagle floating on some water washing its feathers. Before long, however, it is joined by an irate swan which speeds towards the eagle with its huge wings flapping. This eagle knows when it’s beaten and soon leaves.

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Where Do White-Tailed Eagles Normally Live?

White-tailed eagles are a native species of Europe, Asia, and North America. In terms of habitat, they live near marine environments or freshwater ecosystems. It is very common to find them near the coast. They also like to live in wetlands and grasslands, but you could also spot them in forests. The best place to find them, however, is near large bodies of water as we see in this clip. These are all very large birds that can be up to 37 inches in length and weigh up to 12 pounds. The wingspan is also impressive and can reach 8 feet. As a bird of prey, they are equipped with a long beak and sharp talons.

Tailed eagles are carnivores and eat meat – they hunt their prey which includes a lot of fish. However, they also eat birds including ducks and partridges. If they spot a small mammal such as a hare or a ground squirrel, then they will also attempt to catch that. These birds also feed on carrion and will polish off kills made by other predators.

Are Swans Territorial?

There are several different species of swan including the mute swan and the trumpeter swan. The mute swan, in particular, is known to be highly territorial and can be aggressive toward other animals and humans. Mute swans have a reputation as the world’s most aggressive waterfowl species. They can get very tetchy when they are nesting and when they are raising their young as they are very protective of their offspring. Even this eagle is not prepared to take one on!

If a swan decides to attack a human, it could leave you with some nasty bruising. However, it would be very unusual for them to be able to break bones or cause very serious injuries. Swans usually raise their neck as a warning before they attack – so this gives you plenty of time to get out of the way!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © hay_mn97/Shutterstock.com