Red-shouldered Hawk (also known as Hen-hawk)
Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Aves; Order: Accipitriformes; Family: Accipitridae; Genus: Buteo; Species: Buteo lineatus · Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) · Flight (Remiges); specifically a secondary wing feather.
Species
Buteo lineatus
Feather Type
Flight (Remiges); specifically a secondary wing feather.
Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Shape
Generally symmetrical with a slightly rounded tip and broad vane, characteristic of secondary feathers that provide lift rather than the sharp thrust of primaries.
Size
Approximately 7-9 inches (18-23 cm) in length. This is consistent with the secondary feathers of a medium-sized Buteo hawk.
Rarity
Common; one of the most frequently seen and heard raptors in its preferred forest-edge habitats.
Color & Pattern
Distinctive high-contrast 'checkerboard' or barred pattern. The base color is a pale creamy white to light grey, with dark brownish-black or charcoal transverse bands. The rachis is white, and the pattern is bolder on the dorsal side than the ventral side.
Barb Structure
Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs across the main vane for aerodynamic integrity, transitioning to a softer, plumulaceous (downy) structure at the base near the calamus.
Texture & Surface
Smooth and stiff to the touch on the distal end, silky and soft at the proximal base. The surface has a slight matte finish typical of raptor flight feathers.
Description
This feather belongs to the Red-shouldered Hawk, a medium-sized raptor known for its vibrant rufous breast and beautifully barred wings. Adults have a distinctive reddish patch on the 'shoulders' (lesser coverts). In flight, they exhibit a translucent 'crescent' or 'window' near the wingtips, though this is less apparent on secondary feathers like this one. They are vocal birds, often identified by their piercing 'kee-aah' call.
Key Features
The most diagnostic feature is the stark, clean white banding against dark brown. Unlike the Red-tailed hawk's more mottled secondaries, the Red-shouldered hawk's bands are very distinct and regularly spaced.
Habitat
Deciduous and mixed forests with nearby water sources, wooded swamps, and increasingly in wooded suburban areas.
Geographic Range
Year-round resident in the Eastern United States, California, and Mexico. Northern populations in New England and the Great Lakes may migrate to the Southern US in winter.
Condition Notes
Good condition. The barbs are mostly intact with minimal fraying. There is some minor separation at the trailing edge (right side), likely from natural wear or the molting process. The calamus is clean, suggesting a natural molt.
Interesting Facts
Red-shouldered Hawks are often victims of mimicry; Blue Jays are famous for imitating the Red-shouldered Hawk's call to scare away other birds from feeders. They are also highly territorial and will return to the same nesting territory for many years.
Ecological Role
Apex predator of small mammals, amphibians (frogs), and reptiles (snakes). They act as important regulators of small vertebrate populations within forest ecosystems.
Similar Species
Broad-winged Hawk (smaller, fewer and wider bands), Red-tailed Hawk (more mottled/speckled, less clean white banding), and Cooper's Hawk (longer, more tapered feathers).