Question

What are bird talons?

Answer 1

Hint: Talons, like human fingernails, are made of the protein keratin and continue to grow throughout a bird's life. Most talons are constantly worn down by use, but in rare cases, a growth defect can result in a malformed talon that is overly long or curves in an unusual way.

Complete answer:
Talons are the sharp, hooked claws at the tips of a bird's toes. Birds have one talon on each toe, and the overall shape, curvature, and thickness of the talons vary depending on how the bird uses its talons and how worn individual talons are.
Carnivorous birds, such as hawks, eagles, and owls, have the largest and most visible talons because they must catch and dismember prey. Raptors' talons are frequently long and sharp, and proportionally thicker than those of other birds, allowing them to pierce prey's hide or skin and cut into the victim sufficiently to cause a fatal wound.
A raptor's talons must be strong enough to hold struggling prey until it dies, or else the bird's sharp and powerful bill will injure its meal further. While the precise ways in which a bird will use its talons depend on its individual needs as well as its foot and leg strength, common ways in which birds use their talons include:
Preening in areas that the bird's bill cannot reach, such as the nape of head.
Itching at parasites or insects in feathers or on bare skin patches.
Gripping a surface while perched or unbalanced, as in a windy situation.
Climbing trees while foraging for woodpeckers, nuthatches, or creeper.s
Transporting items such as nesting material, food, or prey.
Creating a nesting burrow or scrape nest, or reorganising an existing nest structure.
Gently moving eggs during incubation to more evenly distribute heat.
While foraging on the forest floor or at the high tide line, move leaf litter or other similar debris.
Holding food steady while eating, for example, cracking nuts or large seeds to extract the meat.
Aggressive birds may also use their talons as weapons, attacking intruders, predators, or competing birds for mates, food, or territory. When they are attacked, or when their mate or nest is threatened, those same birds may use their talons to defend themselves.
Talons vary in length, thickness, and curvature depending on the bird species and what the talons are used for; in extreme cases, talons may be useful for identification.

Note:
When talons are especially visible, birders should consider:
1. Tail colour, including whether it changes colour along its length or contrasts with a toe or webbed foot.
2. The overall claw length, especially in relation to the size of the bird's foot.
3. Claw curvature, particularly if the talons appear overly curved.
4. Overall talon thickness, especially when compared to toe.