Red-tailed Hawk (Buzzard)

These feathers come from a large, broad-winged hawk known for its signature brick-red tail. The Red-tailed Hawk has a heavy body, wide wings, and a short tail. Adults typically have dark brown backs and a pale underside with a 'belly band' of dark streaks. Their scream is the stereotypical 'hawk cry' used in movies.

Bicolor pattern: the flight feather is dark brownish-grey with a white base. The tail feather displays the diagnostic bright rufous-red/orange pigment characteristic of adult hawks, with a faint subterminal dark band and white tipping.

Pennaceous; tightly interlocked barbs with microscopic hooklets (barbicels) providing a stiff, aerodynamic vane. The base of the feathers shows plumulaceous (downy) structure for insulation.

Smooth, stiff, and slightly glossy on the dorsal surface; matte and paler on the ventral side. Leading edge barbs are very rigid to maintain air pressure during flight.

The most diagnostic feature is the rich rufous-red coloration on the rectrix (tail feather), which is unique among North American buteos of this size.

Found in a wide variety of habitats including open woodlands, agricultural fields, grasslands, desert, and urban areas with tall perching structures.

Common throughout North America, from central Alaska and Canada south through Mexico and Central America to the West Indies.

Apex predator; primarily controls populations of small mammals (voles, mice, rabbits) and occasionally reptiles or other birds.

Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, more banded), Ferruginous Hawk (larger, different tail pattern), and Cooper's Hawk (longer tail, different banding).

Almost every time a 'bald eagle' screams in a movie, the sound used is actually the raspy, piercing scream of a Red-tailed Hawk, as eagles have much chirpier, less impressive vocalizations.

The feathers appear to be in Good to Excellent condition; barbs are mostly intact with minimal 'zipper' separation provided by the interlocking barbicels.