like mascots

Let's take it from a different angle, one of evolutionary development.

so what happens when the author never tells you? Is everything in a constant state of quantum furry because it's rarely explicitly stated?

How is it being used rather

schrodingers furry

But whether they evolved naturally or not is irrelevant to whether or not they're furry

Let's say you had the ability to change your own traits as you need to. Let's say you were wanting to physiologically change your body to be able to travel in, and live off of, the ocean.

They're clearly based on real life birds(primarily eagles)

not really

They're not really based on eagles.

idk how this is an argument, it takes 1 look at them to know theyre furry

Look at their adult beaks

not exactly an edge case

it's hard to actually link them to a real life bird, or at least a single one

Well first of all you guys are talking about a fictional animal

No tomiel tooth so it's not a falcon

Looks like an eagle's beak to me

that's just the beak though

Right, but that's why I said based on and not actually are eagles

They're not real animals, so I couldn't tell you their biology

Only what they are based off of in real life

genuinely curious-- when does something become furry in your eyes?

~~When it puts on the fur suit.~~

like, are the Rito from Wind Waker still furries?

Ooh, valid point, the Rito in Windwaker had a less 'furry' design than Breath of the Wild...

because they have beaks... (for noses what)

I'd say wind waker rito are getting close, and it's a stretch, but I'd understand why someone may feel that way

It's the classic cat girl vs furry scenario

There was a significant design change. When I refer to Rito, I'm specifically thinking of Windwaker.

so then could you say the asari from mass effect are octopus furries?

Are they based on octopus? I'm not familiar with the series

they have weirdly flat tentacle hair

Asari are weird to me; it's like they're designed to be a sexual fantasy race

I honestly hate the design of the asari

bland and uninspired

I mean more about the lore for the race

I see a distinct difference between characters such as Sonic, Dust, or Bubsy and characters like Ruto and Medli.

also are xenomorphs furries?

Better example, compare Amy, or 'Ginger' from Dust.

I could agree that Rito reaaaaaaly skirt the line

I'd argue though that Zora generally make sense, from a purely evolutionary perspective.

To the point that they are a race, and not simply anthropomorphic animals.