Juvenile Bald Eagle with hitchhiker

This juvenile bald eagle was flying from a dead tree perch back to its nest. These small birds had been harassing the eagle. As it flew this bird flew above the eagle and pecked at it behind the head. The hitchhiker landed on the eagle and continued to peck for a matter of seconds before flying off. The eagle had fledged only a few days prior to this photo. I spent the nesting season observing this nest which resulted in two successful hatchlings.