Thorondor as a Maia???

[Thulorongil]

Here's a semi-related question: Are/were there any eagle civilizations besides that of Thorondor’s kin? Because people have been saying that there are no records of Maia/Maia offspring, and Melian is an exception because she fell in love with an elf, so what if there were non-Maia eagles and a Maia-Thorondor?

I think it is more likely, however, that Thorondor and his descendants were just skillful and intelligent eagles, who became, as Sharkû said,

elevated from that of wild beasts by contact with the Valar...Certainly Manwe would at least be able to raise 'his' creation slightly.

Just because someone (be it eagle, or any other species/race) accomplishes great feats of intelligence, bravery, or whatever else, doesn’t mean they need to be supernaturally gifted. Just look at most of the heroes of Middle-Earth! Most of them are just normal Elves, men, or hobbits, and we don’t debate whether they are Maiar or just gifted normal beings.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with debating!