The eagle’s talons are adapted to catch and handle fish, which constitutes this bird’s main food source. Also, notice the difference between DIGET II Inner Talon of the Right Leg and DIGIT IV Outer Talon of the left leg. See the difference in size between DIGIT I and DIGIT IV of the left leg below. The bald eagle’s right and left legs below show the difference between the hallux and outer talons. Female bald eagles are always larger than males and have larger talons. As a general rule, larger birds have longer talons. There is a good deal of variation in the length of bald eagle talons. The following table shows the length, chord, and depth of a bald eagle’s talons. Some ornithologists call the outer talons accessory talons. Talon I and II of each foot function as the main tools, while talons III and IV’s, middle and outer talons, have only a supporting role. Simultaneously, the eagle uses talons II on opposite feet to grip and transport its prey. The function of talon I is gripping a prey against the front talons. The talons I and II size are consistent with the bald eagle’s hunting strategy and handling of its prey. The talons of digits III and IV are considerably smaller. They determined that the hallux (digit I) is the largest and strongest talon, followed closely by digit II talon (inner toe). A team of ornithologists (1) took measurements of talons on many bald eagles. The 8 talons of the bald eagle are of different sizes and vary in shape. Hence its talons do not have the same function as birds of prey that hunt live animals. The California Condor is the largest flying bird in North America, but it is a carrion feeder. The golden eagle is very similar in size and has similar talons. The bald eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in North America and has some of the largest talons. This is an aerial display that male and female eagles perform during pair formation. Some eagle species, including the bald eagle, use their talons to lock with another eagle’s talons in mid-air then, both eagles drop vertically in a spiral fashion. Eagles and other birds of prey also use their talons to hold the prey down while tearing small pieces of meat with the beak.īesides serving as the most important hunting tool, eagles also use their talons as weapons to attack other birds and animals, defend their territories, and fight over resources such as food and mating partners.Įagles also use their talons to transport nesting material, perch on branches of different sizes, and groom themselves. It is their hunting tool that raptors depend entirely on for survival.Įagles use their talons to capture, subdue, and kill their prey. The talons are the most important part of a bird of prey’s body. The hallux allows birds of prey to grab and carry their prey with their feet. The back toe is known as “hallux” and has a similar function as a thumb in humans. Three of the toes and talons point forward while one points backward or in the opposite direction (See photo above).

The talons never change color for the rest of the eagle’s life. The talons start as gray in nestlings but turn black by the time the eaglet leaves the nest. A bald eagle has 8 talons.Ī bald eagle has four talons on each foot. They tend to carry things with their mouths and beaks. On the other hand, mammals, reptiles, and other non-birds of prey use their claws to climb, run, dig holes in the ground, and even capture their prey but cannot carry or transport their prey or other things with their claws. They seldom use their beak to carry their prey or other things.

Claws have many similar functions as talons but are not used to grab and carry things.īirds of prey use their talons to trap and carry their prey, nesting material. The only apparent difference is that talons are used to grab and carry things.

Talons and claws can be seen as compressed and hardened human hair.ĭifference between the function of talons and claws. They are both made of keratin, which is the same hard protein that makes human hair. Talons and claws are also the same in composition. For instance, we say the claws of a duck or a dove, never the talons of a duck or a dove. This is to say that only birds of prey have talons while other animals, including non-birds of prey, have claws. Technically, mammals, reptiles, and birds have claws of very similar appearance.īut, the claws of a bald eagle, and other birds of prey, are called talons. A common question is whether bald eagles have talons or claws.Ī quick review of the literature suggests that claws and talons are basically the same in composition, form, and most functions.

Eagle talon