Red-shouldered Hawk

A striking feather from a medium-sized raptor known for its 'checkered' wings. Red-shouldered Hawks are forest-dwelling raptors with rufous chests and distinct black-and-white wing patterns visible in flight. They are vocal birds, often identified by their 'kee-rah' call.

Bold, high-contrast transverse banding. Alternating dark charcoal-black bars and crisp white-to-pale-cream bars. The tip is dark with a thin white terminal fringe. The ventral side is paler with more muted silver-grey tones.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs on the majority of the vane, transitioning to loose, plumulaceous down at the base (superior umbilicus).

Relatively stiff and smooth on the upper surface to facilitate flight, with a matte finish. Leading edge is slightly more rigid than the trailing edge.

Bold white-and-black banding with roughly equal width of dark and light bars; rounded tip; lack of 'combing' (distinguishing it from owls).

Deciduous and mixed woodlands, often near water sources such as swamps, rivers, and flooded forests. Also frequents suburban areas with mature trees.

Common across the eastern half of North America and along the California coast into Mexico. Eastern populations are partially migratory.

Generalist predator that controls populations of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles; serves as an indicator of healthy wetland-forest ecotones.

Broad-winged Hawk (fewer, broader bands), Cooper's Hawk (more brownish/grey instead of black/white), Barred Owl (softer texture, fluted edges).

Red-shouldered Hawks are highly territorial; they often return to the same nesting territory year after year, sometimes for decades.

Fair to Good; showing some wear and separation of the barbs at the trailing edge and base. The calamus is intact, suggesting a natural molt.