Eagle feet have claws, but so do the feet on dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons,
robins, and even tiny hummingbirds. What makes eagle feet different? First,
the claws must be extremely strong and sharp. When an eagle catches a fish,
those claws have to slice into a stiff, strong fish with thick scales protecting
its body. (All birds of prey use their feet for killing, from the tiniest Elf
Owl and American Kestrel to the largest eagles.)
But sharp
claws are NOT the reason eagle feet are called talons; after all, cats
have sharp claws, too, but they don't have talons. What makes talons
different? They are designed to carry things. An eagle foot is made up
of four muscular toes, powerful enough to hang onto a fairly large fish
as the eagle carries it through the air.
Eagles, hawks,
and owls have very sharp beaks as well as talons. Many of them use their
talons to grab prey animals. Next they use the sharp points of their
beaks to bite the animal at the base of the skull or in the neck to kill
it. Eagles don't bother with that when they're carrying a fish, but ones
that learn to hunt rabbits or ducks may do so. Although an eagle's beak
is strong, powerful, and huge, it never carries sticks or fish in its
beak.
