Ask A Scientist© Zoology Archive

name         Tasha S.
status       other
age          20s

Question -   I have read that when an eagle gets older it finds a
secluded location and begins to scrape his feathers, beak and talons on
a rock until he completely scrapes them away and while he waits for them
to grow back, he does not eat or drink. When they grow back they are like
they were when he was young. Is this true?
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I have not heard the particular tale you refer to.
This sounds like a folk tale related to the reality that all birds molt at
least once a year, thus growing new feathers that would indeed be "like when
they were young." They do not, as far as I know, actively scrape away the
feathers, they simply fall out at the proper "pre-programmed" time, while
new ones grow to replace the old ones. I do not know anything about an eagle
or any other bird specifically scraping talons or beak, but birds regularly
groom their plumage, and might scrape at beak and talons from time to time.
J. Elliott
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