Did You Know?

The hook at the tip of the bald eagle’s beak is used for tearing. Behind the hook, the upper mandible has an edge sharp enough to slice tough skin; it overlaps the lower mandible, creating a scissoring effect.

The bald eagle’s beak and talons are made of keratin, and grow continuously in the same way that our hair and fingernails do. Wild eagles wear down their beak and talons naturally, while captive eagles must be trimmed annually.