[EatsRainbows (OP)]

real or not??

[LeeE]

It appears to be real.  The link below shows a couple of additional photos:

http://www.sawse.com/2008/06/18/blackbirds-hitching-a-ride-on-hawks-back/

[EatsRainbows (OP)]

theres some debate on that website as to whether or not its real.... well i know that smaller animals will 'travel' upon a larger one, eg some species of fish but its usually for a food source (eg eating off/cleaning of bigger fish).. not sure ive ever heard of truly just hitching a ride, which appears to be what this dude is doing! Seems strange.... lazy bird? []  []

[Nizzle]

Who says he's hitching?
Maybe he's just "surfing the bird"

I think the little bird can never reach the same altitudes than that bird of prey, so maybe he's just a thrill seeker, hooked on "birdrenaline"

[wolfekeeper]

I've seen this picture before somewhere.

I'm not sure, but I think that the black birds were trying to harrass the bigger bird, because it was threatening their young.

[RD]

so maybe he's just a thrill seeker, hooked on "birdrenaline"

Surely "ad-wren-aline"  [:I]

[EatsRainbows (OP)]

I think that the black birds were trying to harrass the bigger bird, because it was threatening their young

Yeah its in the link that LeeE posted above, seems to have a copyright on that version of it.... (i got it by chain email) so maybe belongs to them? Harassing a threat seems a legitimate reason but the birds wings are folded in, so fully landed, i think harassing would be more of a quick swoop in no? why fold wings?

[wolfekeeper]

Well, it's not such a bad place to stand, it makes the bird you're mobbing work harder just to carry you, and it can't get you with it's claws so it's safer, meanwhile you've got your claws in its back...

[LeeE]

How is it holding on? given that the muscles in a birds foot automatcally contract to clasp onto something under pressure, but big birds back is flat or at least soft with feathers so i dont see that would be possible?... Does anyone think that is a legitimate argument? Im ruling it out as a fake unless anyone can give a better explanation!  []

Birds can walk on flat ground.