PHOTO: On the wings of an eagle

On the wings of an eagle: Breath-taking footage shows what it's like to soar like a bird of prey over the French Alps

• The short but spectacular film has quickly gone viral
• A dramatic bird's eye view of the alpine scenery is provided by the video

It redefines the meaning of an in-flight movie.

No soundtrack is needed for this remarkable footage apparently captured by a small camera attached to an eagles back, as it soars high above the French Alps.

The short video, lasting just one minute and 26 seconds, records the bird's effortless, spectacular flight above the Mer de Glace area in Charmonix, in south-eastern France.

And unsurprisingly it has quickly gone viral.

People may wonder what it feels like to fly like an eagle, and now they know in all its awe-inspiring, feather-fluttering beauty.

Skimming the tree tops, and swooping over oblivious walkers below, it provides a breath-taking view of the surrounding mountain scenery.

It also appears at one point to show what could be the eagle’s handler sitting on the ground below.

Posted by YouTube user Srachi, who has only revealed where the video was supposedly filmed, there is speculation a GoPro action camera, weighing just a few ounces, was used.

The amazing images have prompted some to suggest it has been produced with the help of technical trickery.

But many viewers will simply be left with a feeling of wonder and admiration at the majesty of this effortless flight.

And the backdrop to the footage could not be more dramatic. The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is a glacier located on the northern slopes of the Mont Blanc mountain range, in the Alps.

At more than four miles long and 660 feet deep, it is the longest glacier in France.