Red-tailed Hawk
Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Aves; Order: Accipitriformes; Family: Accipitridae; Genus: Buteo; Species: Buteo jamaicensis · Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles) · Primary flight feather (remex), specifically an outer primary likely from the P6 to P8 position.
Species
Buteo jamaicensis
Feather Type
Primary flight feather (remex), specifically an outer primary likely from the P6 to P8 position.
Family
Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles)
Shape
Highly asymmetrical vane, typical of flight feathers designed for lift; features a rounded to slightly blunted tip with distinct emargination on the leading edge to reduce drag.
Size
Estimated 8 to 10 inches in length; the width is approximately 2 to 2.5 inches. This is consistent with a large Buteo hawk's outer wing feathers.
Rarity
Common; it is the most widespread and frequently seen large hawk in North America.
Color & Pattern
Uniform dark chocolate brown to fuscous on the dorsal surface with a subtle sheen; the ventral side is lighter and more matte. The lack of distinct banding suggests it is from the dark morph or an older adult from a darker population.
Barb Structure
Densely packed pennaceous barbs with interlocking hooklets for aerodynamic integrity; minimal plumulaceous (downy) structure at the base of the quill.
Texture & Surface
Smooth, stiff, and somewhat glossy on the upper vane; the surface is designed to be water-resistant and withstand high wind pressure during soaring.
Description
This feather belongs to the Red-tailed Hawk, a robust raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Adults are famous for their namesake cinnamon-red tail, though their body plumage varies widely from nearly white to almost black (dark morphs).
Key Features
Significant asymmetry between the leading and trailing vanes, dark uniform pigmentation, and the characteristic stiffness and size of a Buteo primary.
Habitat
Extremely versatile: found in open grasslands, agricultural fields, woodland edges, deserts, and increasingly in urban parks and highways.
Geographic Range
Year-round resident across most of North America, from Alaska and Canada south into Central America and the West Indies.
Condition Notes
Good to Fair condition; contains significant wear at the tip (fraying) and some separation of the barbs ('zipper' effect), suggesting it was molted at the end of a season.
Interesting Facts
The scream of the Red-tailed Hawk is so iconic and piercing that it is almost always used in Hollywood movies to represent any eagle or hawk, including the Bald Eagle.
Ecological Role
Top-tier predator; controls rodent and rabbit populations and serves as an important indicator of environmental health and pesticide levels.
Similar Species
Golden Eagle (much larger), Rough-legged Hawk (usually has more distinct whitish bases), and Dark-morph Swainson's Hawk (narrower feather profile).