Bald Eagle About to Strike

Photographing at the maximum frame rate of the new Sony a9 III (120 frames per second) adds a whole new level to capturing that decisive moment. I have TOO MANY frames from my recently concluded Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska.

I chose this one for the less-than-perfectly-clean talons; some grass is stuck to its frosty left talon.

Join me next March for my Eagles Galore Workshop and five incredible days of Eagle photography. Note that others offering similar (or less) field time are charging more than USD$1,000 more for the same trip, but they are timed too early and risk their boat being stuck frozen in the harbour, as was the case for many Eagle photographers this year.

Bald Eagle about to strike (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Pygargue à tête blanche, BAEA) March 6, 2024 near Homer, Alaska. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X Tele-extender @840mm ISO 10,000, f/5.6 @ 1/8,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Full frame image. Join me for my Eagles Galore workshop next March. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Bald Eagle Talons Clutching Fresh Caught Fish in Flight

Do Bald eagles have talons or claws?

A common question is whether bald eagles have talons or claws. A quick literature review suggests that claws and talons are similar in composition, form, and function. Technically, mammals, reptiles, and birds have claws that have very similar appearances. But the claws of a bald eagle and other birds of prey are called talons. This is to say that only birds of prey have talons, while other animals, including non-birds of prey, have claws. For instance, we say the claws of a duck or a dove, never the talons of a duck or a dove.

Bald Eagle Talons Clutching Fresh Caught Fish In Flight (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Pygargue à tête blanche, BAEA) near Homer, Alaska. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 G Master OSS Lens. ISO 3,200, f/2.8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Join me for my Eagles Galore workshop every March. To learn more, CLICK HERE.