Cooper's Hawk

This is a classic tail feather from a Cooper's Hawk, a medium-sized forest raptor known for its incredible agility. The bird itself has a long, banded tail and rounded wings, allowing it to navigate dense vegetation. Adults have blue-gray backs and rufous-barred underparts, while juveniles are browner with vertical streaking.

Alternating wide, dark brown-to-charcoal bands and lighter grayish-brown bands. The tip features a distinct white or pale terminal band, which is a classic field mark for this species.

Pennaceous throughout most of the vane for flight stability; plumulaceous (downy) at the very base for insulation. Barbs are tightly interlocked with functional barbicels.

Smooth and somewhat glossy on the dorsal surface, with a matte finish on the ventral side. The feather feels stiff and durable to support high-speed maneuvering.

Distinctive wide dark/light banding (usually 3-4 bands visible), rounded tip, and a white terminal edge. The size distinguishes it from the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests; increasingly common in suburban areas and backyard gardens with dense tree cover for hunting.

Widespread across North America, from Southern Canada through most of the United States to Central America. Northern populations are migratory.

Apex avian predator in forest and suburban ecosystems. They help regulate populations of smaller birds and rodents.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, usually squared-off tail feather), Northern Goshawk (much larger, wavy/mottled banding), Broad-winged Hawk (shorter, broader tail feathers).

Cooper's Hawks are 'sprinters' of the bird world; they specialize in hunting other birds and can fly through dense brush at high speeds by quickly tucking their wings. They are also known to 'drown' prey in backyard birdbaths.

The feather appears relatively fresh with minor fraying at the tip and trailing edge. Some separation of the barbs is visible near the base, likely due to contact with the ground after molting.