Living

Majestic Bald Eagle Struts Around Like a Diva in Her Hilarious 'Fish-Flops'

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Stan Tekiela Author / Naturalist / Wildlife Photographer / Getty Images

Animals don't really have clothes (unless we give them some). They're content with their fur, feathers, and scales, and usually don't even really like it when we do put clothes on them. They live life the natural way.

Well, except for one Bald Eagle. She recently decided it was time to make some shoes, so she used what she had, creating a new trend. Fish-flops! I don't think I could rock these, but she really makes them work:

@christinescritters

‘Tis the season for FISH-FLOPS! We love when Aurora dons her fish-flops to get her fish to where she would like to eat lunch! #aurora#christinescritters#lovemyjob#dayinthelife#fishflops

original sound - Christine's Critters Inc.

Christine's Crittersl include this incredible Bald Eagle, Aurora. Apparently, Aurora has been trying to bring fish-flops into style for a long time. She dons them almost every time someone gives her a fish, unless they give it to her in her favorite lunch spot.

They love seeing her fish-flops, so something tells me they typically don't give it to her in her favorite spot. So, when they don't, she picks it up with her huge talons and walks on it until she gets there. Not only is it super fashionable and funny, but it's also smart.

Related: This Mama Bald Eagle's Dedication to Her Babies Is Melting Hearts

Miss Fish-Flops is currently going through it. It's molting season, and as the resident fashionista, she wants to be in top shape at all times. Thus, she never slacks off with her personal hygiene:

@christinescritters

Aurora takes her personal hygiene VERY seriously, eapecially during molting season. Molting can be itchy business and leads to scratching itches and shaking out those feathers with a good rouse #christinescritters#eagle#aurora#lovemyjob#dayinthelife

Jurassic Park Theme - The Hit Crew

Some people are concerned about her talon straps, but they're for her own safety. This is a wildlife rescue, so these birds (and other critters) can't live in the wild. If Aurora was to take flight and leave, things wouldn't end well for her.

How Eagles Protect Their Food

Aurora's fish-flops are the best way to transport her food, and they're the best way to keep it safe. She's doing the best she can!

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gjohnstonphoto / Getty Images

If an Eagle is going to move their food to eat it, whether they're eating it themselves or sharing it with their young, they're going to use their feet. It's much more efficient than using their beaks, because it:

  • Offers security: they can pierce it with their talons to keep it steady.
  • Helps defense: no smaller bird is going to try to wrestle a fish from those talons.
  • Allows them to carry larger prey than with just their beaks.

Christine and everyone at her wildlife rescue love to see Aurora's awesome fish-flops, but one thing is important to remember: you can look, but you should never touch!

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM.

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