Blunt talons

[Java Falconer]

Guys, I've just have a look to some eagles pics and found out that some are having blunt talons. Does this sounds normal to eagle? What comes to my mind is that eagles are different from accipiter or falcon as they don't really kill their prey with their needle sharp talons, but using the pressure.

Most big eagles, like Harpy, have that blunt talons.

Oh yeah, and some pics shows that they were put on a block, rather than a perch. Does this ok for eagles?

I was curious


Thanks!

[Hardcore Hawker]

Java Falconer, are you talking captive eagles? as i doubt wild raptors of any species would have blunt talons! Its a husbandry issue.

Seen plenty of different species of captive birds with blunt talons, birds that bate frequently kept on pea shingle etc. keep them on silver sand / grass / astroturf condition the bird correctly to reduce bating and the talons will be pin sharp.

[RedNoseK9]

I belive some people prefer their eagles to have blunter talons as it is hard to stop them penetrating gloves if they are sharp.

Wez

[HawkEagle]

Wild eagles have sharp talons even Harpy eagle. Captive ones are often coped so they are not too dangerous to handler also they are tied up to the perch which they can hop down to the ground that will blunt their talons.

[Java Falconer]

Thanks for the feed backs guys!

Now I understand that. But, the footage I saw is a Philippine Monkey Eagle in its habitat having her talons blunt.

So, if that's the case, the talons can be needle-sharp again rite.

[HawkEagle]

Thanks for the feed backs guys!

Now I understand that. But, the footage I saw is a Philippine Monkey Eagle in its habitat having her talons blunt.

So, if that's the case, the talons can be needle-sharp again rite.

The Philipian eagle could be a captive one acting as a wild one. Talons also grow larger with age and yes talons get sharpen again.

[PitBullOne]

Java Falconer, are you talking captive eagles? as i doubt wild raptors of any species would have blunt talons! Its a husbandry issue.

Seen plenty of different species of captive birds with blunt talons, birds that bate frequently kept on pea shingle etc. keep them on silver sand / grass / astroturf condition the bird correctly to reduce bating and the talons will be pin sharp.

spot on my female goldies are needle sharp

[BHawk]

ive flown birds with blunt talons, one was free lofted with astroturf perching an nothing to wear down its talons bar the gravel but she rarely went on the floor, it seemed she naturally had blunt talons, yet it in no way impeded her, she was a killing machine!!! the power they have the talons dont 'need' to be like needles

[Java Falconer]

ive flown birds with blunt talons, one was free lofted with astroturf perching an nothing to wear down its talons bar the gravel but she rarely went on the floor, it seemed she naturally had blunt talons, yet it in no way impeded her, she was a killing machine!!! the power they have the talons dont 'need' to be like needles

This support my opinion, that pressure is more important for eagle than their talons' sharpness. Squeezing their prey till they can't breath.

[Java Falconer]

The Philipian eagle could be a captive one acting as a wild one. Talons also grow larger with age and yes talons get sharpen again.

Perhaps, as it is a footage filmed by BBC. But, nothing seemed artificial as the eagle has a chick in her nest and she is definitely defending it. It was more like a raptor watch.

[Java Falconer]

spot on my female goldies are needle sharp

May I see the pics, please???

[Kitana]

This support my opinion, that pressure is more important for eagle than their talons' sharpness. Squeezing their prey till they can't breath.

Have you ever been footed by a raptor with blunt talons, or more classical, bitten by a dog?

When the pressure is sufficient, the talons will penetrate the skin no matter how blunt they are. Dogs and wolves have very dull fangs compared to felines, yet they easily penetrate skin!

[Java Falconer]

Have you ever been footed by a raptor with blunt talons, or more classical, bitten by a dog?

When the pressure is sufficient, the talons will penetrate the skin no matter how blunt they are. Dogs and wolves have very dull fangs compared to felines, yet they easily penetrate skin!

Yep, I got your point.

Thanks!

[BHawk]

Have you ever been footed by a raptor with blunt talons, or more classical, bitten by a dog?

When the pressure is sufficient, the talons will penetrate the skin no matter how blunt they are. Dogs and wolves have very dull fangs compared to felines, yet they easily penetrate skin!

exactly what i was going to say, even a spoon can become a deadly weapon as long as its got the force behind it. the pressure they have i cant see why it would be an absolute necessity to have needle sharp talons.

[HawkEagle]

Perhaps, as it is a footage filmed by BBC. But, nothing seemed artificial as the eagle has a chick in her nest and she is definitely defending it. It was more like a raptor watch.

I have the vdo of that one and the book incooperate the serie and they use a captive philipian eagle that was trained by Steve Ford. The one raising young in nest is a geniun wild one the rest are not.

[Java Falconer]

I have the vdo of that one and the book incooperate the serie and they use a captive philipian eagle that was trained by Steve Ford. The one raising young in nest is a geniun wild one the rest are not.

I see, so they mix the footages altogether.

[Tasha55403]

...i doubt wild raptors of any species would have blunt talons!

Off topic, but thought I'd mention that Greg and I've trapped quite a few redtails with blunt talons. They like to perch on metal light posts and it dulls the talons something awful.

[Hardcore Hawker]

Interesting Tash, It probably wont impede its ability to catch mainly small to medium rodents, But for any raptor which catches mainly feathered prey sharp talons would be imperitive imo.

[Java Falconer]

Off topic, but thought I'd mention that Greg and I've trapped quite a few redtails with blunt talons. They like to perch on metal light posts and it dulls the talons something awful.

I bet you're 100 % correct. Some even have pro-longed talons. Till they can't really hunt well :cry: