Footage captured on Lake Chippewa in Wisconsin shows the bird of prey, which typically has a wing span of 5-7 feet, paddling towards the shore while clutching a huge carp in its talons.

The bald eagle releases the fish onto the beach before tucking in.

The clip starts with the bird of prey swimming through the water using its powerful wings as its white head bobs up and down rhythmically. The amazed filmer shouts: 'Oh my god!'

Just moments later, the large carp is spotted in the eagle's enormous talons as the bird continues to drag its meal through the water.

As the eagle draws closer to the shore, the filmer says: 'Look at that big fish! See it?That is insane! It's still alive. Is it flapping? Oh my god!'

The filmer said: 'We were sitting in the living room with a view of the lake and noticed an eagle swimming towards our beach. 

'At first, I thought it was hurt but then it swam to shore with a 20lb carp in its talons. 

'It sat on the shore and ate the fish for a couple of hours and then came back in the morning and finished eating the carp. It was truly an amazing sight to see!'

Bald eagles, which typically weighs from 6-13lbs, can end up swimming after snatching a fish from a river or lake, because their feathers get waterlogged.  

Eagle researcher Jim Watson from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said: 'Throughout the years I've seen them swim a lot of times and usually it's because they fly out and attempt to catch a fish in the water and maybe get waterlogged.'