Cooper's Hawk

This feather belongs to the Cooper's Hawk, a agile aerial predator about the size of a crow. Adults have blue-gray upperparts and rufous-barred underparts, while this feather likely comes from an adult or older juvenile. Known for their 'flap-flap-glide' flight style, they are specialist hunters of other birds.

Distinctive bold horizontal banding (barring). Features 5-6 dark charcoal grey to blackish-brown bars alternating with light grey to white translucent bands. The underside is significantly paler.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs on both the leading and trailing vanes to maintain airtight surface during flight. Minimal plumulaceous down at the base.

Smooth, firm, and slightly glossy on the dorsal surface. The vane is stiff to resist air pressure but retains flexibility for steering through dense vegetation.

Bold, even-width dark and light barring; rounded tip; medium size; dark rachis. The clean white-to-grey transition is more distinct than in larger hawks like the Red-tailed.

Found in mixed and deciduous forests, open woodlands, and increasingly common in suburban residential areas with tall trees and bird feeders.

Year-round resident across much of the United States and southern Canada; northern populations migrate to the southern U.S. and Central America for winter.

Apex avian predator. They help regulate populations of medium-sized birds (doves, jays, starlings). Their presence indicates a healthy, complex ecosystem capable of supporting top-tier predators.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, bars are often narrower), Northern Goshawk (larger, more mottled or wavy barring), Merlin (narrower feather, different banding pattern).

Cooper's Hawks are 'stealth fighters' of the bird world. They often hunt by flying low and fast through dense cover to surprise prey. They were once called 'Chicken Hawks' despite rarely attacking poultry.

Excellent condition. The barbs are tightly zipped (interlocked), suggesting a fresh molt. There is no evidence of stress bars (fault lines) or parasite damage.