Red-shouldered Hawk

This feather belongs to the Red-shouldered Hawk, a medium-sized raptor known for its colorful plumage and vocal nature. Adult birds have a rufous 'shoulder' and breast with beautifully barred underparts. Their wings are striking in flight, showing a translucent 'window' near the wingtips and bold black-and-white banding on the secondaries and tail.

Bold, high-contrast alternating bands of dark brownish-black and crisp white. The white bands are notably wide and clean, which is a diagnostic trait for this species.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs throughout most of the vane for flight stability, becoming plumulaceous (downy) at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth, stiff, and slightly glossy on the dorsal surface. The ventral side has a more matte, silvery appearance. The feather feels firm to the touch to provide lift.

Bold, equal-width black and white banding and a relatively rounded tip are diagnostic for Red-shouldered Hawk secondaries.

Deciduous and mixed woodlands, often near water sources such as rivers, swamps, and wooded wetlands.

Year-round resident in the Eastern United States and along the California coast; populations in the Northern U.S. and Canada may migrate south in winter.

Secondary predator; they control populations of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, serving as an indicator of healthy forest and wetland ecosystems.

Broad-winged Hawk (bands are less distinct and fewer), Red-tailed Hawk (lack the bold white contrasts on secondaries), and Cooper's Hawk (narrower, more tapered feathers).

Red-shouldered Hawks are highly territorial and will return to the same nesting territory year after year, sometimes for over a decade.

The feather appears to be in excellent condition with minimal wear or fraying, likely a recently molted specimen from a healthy adult bird.