talons
Curved predator claws
Talons are the sharp, curved claws of a bird of prey—eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons use them to seize and kill prey.
The word emphasizes lethality: ordinary birds have claws, but raptors have talons.
Figuratively, talons suggest grasping aggression: escape the talons of debt collectors, in the talons of addiction.
Large predatory bird
- hawkTaloned predatory bird
- owlNocturnal feathered predator
- falconSwift bird of prey
- ospreyFish-catching bird of prey
vulture · kite · harrier · condor · buzzard · kestrel · peregrine · golden eagle
Animal gripping nails
- raptorHunting bird with talons
- birdFeathered flying vertebrate
- curvedSmoothly bent, not angular
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
grip · keratin · digits · hooked · predator · feet · grasp · piercing
Grips tightly, or handbags
menace · threat · power · danger · inescapable · predatory · ruthless · sharp
eagle
Large predatory bird
osprey · vulture · kite · harrier · condor · buzzard · kestrel · peregrine · golden eagle · bald eagle
claws
Animal gripping nails
sharp · grip · keratin · digits · hooked · predator · feet · grasp · piercing · scaly
clutches
Grips tightly, or handbags
hold · menace · threat · power · danger · inescapable · predatory · ruthless · sharp · seize
prey
Animal being hunted
capture · clutch · pierce · snatch · dive · mouse · rabbit · fish · attack · ambush
griffin
Legendary eagle-lion hybrid
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- harpyPredatory mythical bird-woman
- thunderbirdSpirit bird causing tempests
Garuda · roc · dragon · hippogriff · winged · beast · creature · legendary · divine · monster
- appendagesfins, fin, flipper, flippers, tail
- clawsclaw, pincers, pincer, dewclaw, chela
- creature partsdragon scales, dragon wings, mermaid tail, unicorn horn, vampire fangs
- predator traitssharp teeth, sharp claws, fangs, claws, venom
- ornithologyornithology, ornithologist, birding, bird watching, bird species
- falconryfalcon, falconer, hood, gauntlet, jesses