Cooper's Hawk (Chicken Hawk)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Accipiter, Species: Accipiter cooperii · Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) · Primary flight feather (remex), likely an outer primary (P7-P9) due to the strong asymmetry and emargination.
Species
Accipiter cooperii
Feather Type
Primary flight feather (remex), likely an outer primary (P7-P9) due to the strong asymmetry and emargination.
Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Shape
Highly asymmetrical with a very narrow leading edge (outer vane) and a broad trailing edge (inner vane). The tip appears somewhat rounded but shows distinct 'notching' or emargination characteristic of hawks.
Size
Approximately 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) in length. This is consistent with the primary feathers of a medium-sized woodland hawk like the Cooper's Hawk.
Rarity
Common; though their secretive nature and forest habitat can make them harder to spot than open-country hawks.
Color & Pattern
Muted brownish-grey base color with distinct dark brown or charcoal horizontal banding (bars). The underside is significantly paler/silvery. The banding is a classic 'accipiter' trait used for camouflage in dappled forest light.
Barb Structure
Principally pennaceous and tightly interlocked for aerodynamic flight. The base shows a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) barbs near the calamus for insulation. The baricels are strong, maintaining a stiff vane.
Texture & Surface
Stiff and relatively smooth to the touch. It has a matte finish typical of diurnal raptors, lacking the velvet-like 'fuzz' found on owls.
Description
This feather belongs to the Cooper's Hawk, a slender, medium-sized raptor known for its incredible agility in dense woods. Adults are blue-grey above with reddish barring on the breast, while juveniles are brown with vertical streaks. They have long, banded tails and rounded wings.
Key Features
Distinct dark horizontal banding (bars), strong asymmetry between the leading and trailing vanes, and a stiff, robust rachis. The size is larger than a Sharp-shinned Hawk but smaller than a Goshawk.
Habitat
Primarily deciduous and mixed forests, but frequently found in leafy suburban areas and backyards where they hunt songbirds at feeders.
Geographic Range
Common across North America, from Southern Canada through most of the United States to Central Mexico. Northern populations are migratory.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good. There is some separation of the barbs ('zipped' look) near the base and mid-vane, likely due to wear or the molt process. No significant parasite damage visible.
Interesting Facts
Cooper's Hawks are 'sprinters'; they hunt by flying fast through dense vegetation, often colliding with trees or branches during high-speed chases, resulting in many healed fractures found in museum specimens.
Ecological Role
Apex avian predator in woodland ecosystems. They play a vital role in regulating populations of small to medium-sized birds and small mammals.
Similar Species
Sharp-shinned Hawk feathers are very similar but smaller (usually under 5-6 inches for primaries). Northern Goshawk feathers are larger and have a more 'marbled' or complex barring pattern.