Third Eyelid

Birds have upper and lower eyelids just like us, but they also have a third eyelid called a nitctitating membrane. Carson showed off this normally hidden feature recently as the membrane swept across her eye from front to back. The whiteish yet mostly transparent eyelid keeps the eye moist and clean while protecting it from wind, dust, and anything else they might encounter. Raptors often use this membrane while diving at high speeds, making contact with dangerous prey, or diving into water.