The word raptor comes from the Latin word вЂњrapere,вЂќ which means to seize by force.Д®agle and hawks both have two giant talons on their first and seconds toes, giving them a secure grip on their prey. The Bald Eagle emerges triumphant and powers on with his squirrel feast.ДЇierce Gripping Power of an EagleвЂ™s TalonsДЄnd it got me thinking about the fierce gripping power of a raptorвЂ™s talons.ДЄ raptorвЂ™s feet are incredible hunting tools. The hawk circles back for a second attempt, but never gets into an aggressive position to grab the squirrel. One powerful push and the hawk was on course. Then with its left leg free, the eagle uses it as a weapon striking the hawk and pushing it from its path. Suddenly the hawk attacks the eagle in an attempt to grab its dinner, and the eagle lets go of the squirrel in its left talon while keeping a firm grip of it in its right talon. Now IвЂ™m watching this epic struggle play out above me. This time itвЂ™s a Red-tailed Hawk dive-bombing toward the eagle. While IвЂ™m enjoying the sight of this beautiful raptor, I see another large bird coming into view. Bald Eagle carrying a red squirrel in its talons My Talons are Fiercer Than Yours The birdвЂ™s rapid wingbeats indicate the eagle is powering to its destination, carrying a red squirrel in both its talons.

I see the white head and tail, and my mouth drops, as most people do when seeing Bald Eagles in the wild. IвЂ™m not far from the Hudson River near the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge in Kingston, New York, and a bird with a massive wingspan catches my eye. I saw their fierce grip on display this week, playing out in the sky several hundred feet above me. IвЂ™m smart enough to know I should never shake hands with a Bald Eagle because their talons have a killer grip.

Falcon grips vs talon grips