Have birds of prey ever killed modern humans?

Question

I read some really old story from the early 1900s about an eagle actually taking an 18 month old baby as prey. Could something this extreme actually happen? I know that much larger birds killed pre-human hominoids millions of years ago, but have birds of prey killed modern humans?

Answer 1

yea its true some eagles and hawks carry off babies and small children. not a teen or man/woman but infants most likely.

Answer 2

years ago somebody died of infection after beeing hurt on the head by a golden eagle. hapened in greece

Answer 3

There are a few stories about young babies being carried off by eagles; and even one of a young girl being carried off; then later rescued from the eagle's eyrie.  I don't know how authentic they are.

I think it could be possible that people stranded in the desert and near death might be pecked to death by vultures, and it wouldn't surprise me if this had happened in, say, India.

Answer 4

Scientific studies have shown that the most a golden eagle can lift is around eight pounds, the size of a large jackrabbit, making it most unlikely that children (other than newborns) could be carried off.  On the other hand, I did have a friend who was knocked silly by a red-tailed hawk.  He was sitting in a bush, dressed in full camo, and trying to lure in a bobcat with a predator call.  I guess those calls really DO sound like a wounded rabbit.