* Beak strength: While some birds have powerful beaks for cracking seeds or crushing bones, they are not designed for piercing flesh.
* Eye protection: Human eyes are well-protected by the bony socket, eyelids, and a layer of fat.
* Defensive reflexes: A human would instinctively try to protect their face and eyes if a bird was attacking.
However, there are some caveats:
* Bird species: Larger, more predatory birds like hawks or eagles have stronger beaks and could potentially cause serious injury, but even they are unlikely to be able to pierce the eye socket.
* Specific circumstances: If a bird was agitated or cornered, it might attack with more force, but again, the likelihood of successfully pecking out an eye is low.
Bottom line: While it's possible a bird could cause serious injury to an eye, it's highly unlikely it could successfully peck one out.