A talon is a sharp, curved claw on a bird of prey. Eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons use their talons to catch and hold onto their prey, the way a person might grip something tightly with their fingers. But unlike fingernails, talons are incredibly strong and razor-sharp, designed to pierce and clutch.

When a hawk spots a mouse in a field, it swoops down and snatches the mouse with its talons in mid-flight. An eagle's talons are powerful enough to grip a salmon right out of a river. Owls have especially sharp talons that help them hold onto squirrels and rabbits in the dark.

These claws extend from the bird's foot. Each talon curves like a hook, and birds of prey typically have four on each foot, positioned to lock around whatever they catch.

People sometimes use talon metaphorically to describe anything that grips fiercely or won't let go. Someone might say a difficult problem has its talons in them, meaning they can't shake free of it. The word captures that sense of a powerful, unrelenting grip.