Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern subspecies)

This feather belongs to the Red-tailed Hawk, a large, bulky raptor known for its wide, rounded wings and iconic cinnamon-red tail (in adults). Immature birds have brown, banded tails. They are masters of soaring, often seen circling high in the sky on thermals or perched prominently along roadsides. Their 'kree-eee-ar' scream is the stereotypical hawk sound used in movies.

Striking dark brown to charcoal banding on a cream to white background. The distal (tip) end is solid dark brown. The banding is uneven and 'blotchy', which is a hallmark of immature or non-ventral wing surfaces of certain Red-tailed Hawk morphs. The ventral side is paler than the dorsal side.

Mainly pennaceous with tightly interlocked barbs via barbules and hooklets for aerodynamic integrity. The base of the feather shows a small plumulaceous (downy) section for insulation.

Stiff and smooth to the touch, with a slightly glossy sheen on the dark brown bands. The leading edge is highly rigid to cut through the air, while the trailing edge is slightly softer.

Broad, asymmetrical shape; dark distal tip; irregular dark brown banding on a white/pale base; thick, rigid rachis; evident emargination on the outer vane.

Extremely versatile; found in open woodlands, prairies, agricultural fields, urban parks, and along highway corridors where they perch on poles or trees.

Widespread across North America, from central Alaska and Canada south to Panama and the West Indies. Populations in the north are migratory, while southern birds are resident.

Top-tier predator; they control rodent and small mammal populations. They also serve as an indicator species for environmental health, specifically regarding pesticide levels and habitat fragmentation.

Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, more uniform thin white bands), Cooper's Hawk (shorter, more rounded, different banding), and Rough-legged Hawk (more extensive white at the base and different ventral patterns).

Red-tailed Hawks are highly territorial and will defend their nests aggressively. Their eyesight is roughly eight times as powerful as a human's, allowing them to spot a mouse from 100 feet in the air.

Good condition. The barbs are mostly intact, though there is slight fraying at the base and a small 'gap' or fault bar visible near the lower third, suggesting a minor nutritional stressor during growth.