After doing an initial posting earlier this week on an encounter between a young Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and group of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), I reviewed my photos and came up with a few more to share.
These shots show various moments in the assault of the blackbirds, which seemed determined to harass the much larger eagle. I naturally paid the most attention to the juvenile eagle and tried to capture his attitude of alertness and wariness. After a few minutes of the off-an-on attacks, the eagle finally took off, seemingly in pursuit of the blackbirds.
It was amazing to watch this action and I am glad I managed to get some photos to document the encounter.
Buzzing the eagle (click on photo for higher resolution view)
Circling around for the next attack
Ever vigilant
Alert for the next attack
Relaxed but wary
Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
You have to wonder what’s in it for the black birds.
I don’t know for sure if it’s a territorial thing or if they are simply emboldened when they are in a group (like football hooligans).
i like your comment about football hooligans, maybe he was near a nesting site and they were giving him the get go.. pretty brave though.. lovely to see the red/yellow feathers displayed by the blackbirds I didn’t know they were there.
The red and yellow feathers helped me to determine that they were Red-winged Blackbirds and not crows. I was really happy to get an image in which the colors really showed.