18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Eagle vs Vulture

A Tawny Eagle is toppling Lappet-faced Vulture mid-air, the largest in Tanzania with a wingspan up to 3 meters. The image bears a fight for food, an effort by the Tawny to save its hard-earned rodent kill on the ground that hungry vultures spotted from miles away. They were feasting on it hiding it well inside the long grass. But, before they could finish, in no time the vultures that were appearing tiny spots on the sky started approaching closer. Though nothing was visible to me inside the grass I was waiting to see Tawny's response thinking they’ll have to leave it to vultures. But it wasn’t the case; before the 1st vulture was about to land one tawny took off towards the vulture and others eagle continue to feast. Tawny was one-third of the size of the vulture but the ferocity it hit the vulture the scavenger lost its balance completely. Looking at the lost battle rest of the vultures landed far away, but by that time tawny pair finished and carried away the smaller leftover of the kill and disappeared.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2020
Date Uploaded: 07.2020
Photo Location: Tarangaire, Tanzania
Camera: NIKON D500
Copyright: © SAFIQUE HAZARIKA