"With a razor-sharp banana for a beak and a wingspan surpassing 6 feet, there aren't many flying things on this continent that can top it. Heck, bald eagles may be even more impressive when sitting on the ground, where they approach heights of 3 feet or more-or about as tall as a human toddler. And if you ever get to watch one of these white-headed, brown-bodied predators pierce a still-gasping salmon with talons the size of your thumb"
"By the way, those talons? When they close, they actually lock in place, thanks to a series of tendon notches that allow them to ratchet their grip tighter and tighter. All in, a bald eagle can cinch down on its prey with a clutch roughly 10 times stronger than the human hand is capable of. Now, despite being impressive physical specimens, there is one bald eagle trait that doesn't live up to what you might have seen on television-the patented bald eagle scream."
Bald eagles combine formidable size and strength with specialized anatomy: a razor-sharp beak, wingspans over six feet, and locking talons that ratchet to deliver a grip roughly ten times stronger than a human's. Adults can stand nearly three feet tall and efficiently pierce and shred large fish. Visual capabilities include telescopic acuity and ultraviolet perception. Cultural perceptions exaggerate their vocalizations—the stereotypical sky-rending scream belongs to other raptors—while their actual call resembles a whistling, giggling sound. Bald eagles also exploit scavenging and often appropriate prey captured by other animals.
Read at Slate Magazine
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