A beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) is a North American native deciduous shrub known for its edible nuts, which are enclosed in a distinctive husk that extends into a tubular "beak". These small, protein-rich nuts are a favorite for wildlife (squirrels, birds) and humans, often requiring gloves to harvest due to irritating hairs on the husk, and they're a hardier, smaller relative of the common European hazelnut.