Red-tailed Hawk (Hen Harrier, Buzzard)

The Red-tailed Hawk is a large, adaptable raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail that is typically brick-red in adults. Known for soaring in circles in open areas, it has a rasping, harsh screech call and preys predominantly on small mammals

Rich earthy brown tones transitioning to a warm rufous-buff coloration towards the tip, featuring distinct dark brown barring and a mottled, speckled terminal band; ventral side is slightly paler with a prominent dark shaft

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure across most of the vane with strong barbicels, transitioning to a soft, fluffy plumulaceous down base near the calamus; barbs are intact and well-conditioned

Stiff, smooth, and rigid along the pennaceous vane with a matte to semi-gloss finish; base features soft, downy filaments that are delicate to the touch

Rich brown and buff barred pattern with mottled dark tips, sturdy curved dark rachis, and the characteristic asymmetrical vane structure of a soaring raptor flight feather

Open country, woodlands, deserts, urban areas, agricultural fields, and along major roadways perched on utility poles

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from western Alaska and northern Canada down through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America and the Caribbean

Acts as an apex avian predator helping to regulate rodent and small mammal populations, serving as a key indicator of local ecosystem health

Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Rough-legged Hawk; distinguished by specific barring patterns, rufous tones, and relative dimensions

Red-tailed Hawks have exceptional eyesight, allowing them to spot a mouse from a height of 100 feet. Their iconic piercing scream is frequently used in Hollywood films to sound like any eagle or hawk, regardless of the bird shown

Good condition, fresh appearance with minimal wear at the tip and intact barbs, showing no signs of heavy fading or parasitic damage